subject: Ayurveda And Yoga For Balance [print this page] Adding Yoga to an individuals' Dinacharya has many therapeutic benefits. Many of the benefits are tri-doshic in nature but there are also ways to use yoga to correct doshic imbalances or vikriti that an individual may experience. Using the yogic practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation in conjunction with the knowledge of an individual's dosha, is a focused therapeutic approach to correcting doshic imbalances that may cause disease. David Frawley in his book Yoga and Ayurveda states, "An understanding of Ayurvedic constitutional types helps us to adapt yoga practices according to individual requirements. The asana pranayama and mediation practices appropriate for one doshic type may not be useful for another." Yoga asana is a powerful healing tool. It can be utilized to maintain balance in an individual or to correct doshic imbalances.
Almost all asana can be useful to all dosha types, but frequency, hold, breathing techniques and energetic approach to each asana will change depending on an individual's prakriti and vikriti. There are seven different families of yoga asana, standing poses, balancing poses, seated poses, inversions, forward bends, back bends and twists. Certain poses may help to balance certain doshic imbalances, but that does not mean that any asana family should be completely removed from an individual's practice. All muscle groups should be represented in your practice at least a few days of the week. In the book Yoga for Your Type it states, "An asana may not be good for a particular doshic type but that doesn't mean they should never do it. It means they should practice the asana in a way which guards against any potential imbalances." For example, individuals with a Pitta dosha should in general have a relaxing and cooling practice. Many standing and balancing postures can be heating therefore those with a Pitta constitution should hold the poses for short intervals and do less of them than their Kaphic counterparts. Intention plays a big part in modifying poses to suit each constitution. Energetically each asana can benefit each dosha type depending on the intention with which it is performed. In the book Yoga for your Type it states, "This doshic equation of asanas should not be taken rigidly because the pranic effect of asana can outweigh its structural affect as we just noted. The form of the asana is not its main factor. Through the use of breath we can modify or even change the doshic effects of the asana. We must remember the importance of thought and intention in asana as well. Considering the asana, prana and the mind, we alter a particular asana or adjust the entire practice toward a particular doshic result." For example vata individuals must practice with a calm even grounded mind. Their practices should centered and relaxed, doing asana slowly without strain or abrupt movements. In the book Yoga for Your Type, the authors Frawley and Summerfield make the following recommendation for Vata type practitioners, "A gentle, slow practice evenly balanced on both sides of the body is ideal exercise for vata types. Vata are most in need of asana practice because asana alleviates accumulated Vata from the back and bones, where it causes bone and joint problems. Vata benefits from the massaging action of the asana on the muscles and joints, which release nervous tension and balances out the system." Pitta individuals should practice with the intention to surrender into the asana, in relaxed way that will remove heat and tension. They should remain receptive and detached but also avoid being overly critical.
The recommendation Frawley and Summerfield make for Pitta is as follows. "Pittas benefit from asana practice to cool down the head and the blood, calm the heart and relieve tension. For example, Pittas tends to hypertension because of the fiery temperament that drives them to succeed or to win." Kaphic types should practice with effort and determination. They should practice with light, flowing, energetic movements, and an enthusiastic mind. Increasing the depth and speed of the breath when needed to create energy and reduce kapha. Kapha types get similar advice from Frawley and Summerfield in Yoga for Your Type, "Kaphas need movement and stimulation to counter their tendency to complacency and inertia. They are good at keeping a practice going for longer periods of time, once they get it going in the first place." Another factor in creating a therapeutic practice for each dosha is where the doshic imbalance can be seen in the spine. According to Mas Vidal in his Yoga Therapy text Doshic imbalance can be seen in spine. Vata will be displayed in the lower or lumbar spine and colon. Pitta will accumulate in the mid back and small intestines. Kapha will build up in the thoracic spine and chest.
Each specific therapeutic dosha balancing practice should include asana that releases these dosha from the spine. Many asana's benefits are tridoshic in nature. Yet some poses remove more of one dosha than another. Some examples are Trikoasana (Triangle Pose), Padottanasana (Spread Legs Forward Bend), Ardha Chandrasana ((Half Moon Pose) and many more. The book Yoga for Your Type is an excellent reference for the doshic properties on the most commonly known asanas. Surya Namskar or the sun salutation is a twelve movement sequence that includes back bends, forwards bends and its benefits are tridoshic. The sequence eliminates doshas from the spine and is a heating sequence that helps to reduce excess fat, reduce weight, and improves digestion.
This sequence can be prescribed for individuals of all Prakriti, it is extremely effective in producing spinal health and is excellent for reducing excess doshas from the spine region. Most standing poses such as Parsvttanasana (Intense Sideways Stretch Pose), Padottanasana (Spread Legs Forward Bend), Trikonasana (Triangle) and many other standing poses will decrease all three doshas if modified slightly for each constitution. Vata types will practice standing poses with moderate holds and slow even breathing. Pitta will perform standing poses with short holds and long easy cooling breaths. While kapha will hold these asanas longer and may even repeat theses poses for more heat and movement. The breath will be normal or can even be performed Ujjayi to create more heat. Balancing poses tend to be heating in nature and therefore are recommended in sequences for individuals trying to lower the kapha dosha. Examples of balancing poses are Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Eagle (Garudasana), and Natarajasana (Dancer's Pose). Dancer's pose is a challenging balancing asana that when performed creates opening in the chest and upper spine as well a heating in the body which makes it an excellent posture to reduce Kapha. Since individuals with vata imbalances need warming and grounding postures, balancing poses should be a small portion of a vata reducing practice. The heating nature of balancing poses also minimizes the use of them in a Pitta balancing practice, especially during the warmer summer months. Seated postures are grounding and cooling, which makes them an ideal focus for both vata and pitta practices. Seated postures such as Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Sitting Pose), Virasana (Hero Pose), Yoga Mudrasana (Yoga Seal), Pigeon (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana), or Lotus and Half Lotus (Padmasana) are examples of seated asana.
Some of these postures are also hip openers and can be very helpful in reducing vata that is stored with the hips, colon, and lumbar spine Vata practitioners should practice seated postures with long holds, and even slow and smooth breath. Pitta practitioners can hold these postures with an intention towards surrender and tension release for any period of time that allows for this intention. Kaphic individuals should focus their practice on more active heating postures, and when performing seated asana it is suggested that they still keep the intention of enthusiasm and activity in their practice by utilizing short holds and a warming ujjayi breath. Anytime the head is below heart in an asana it can be considered an inversion. These asana are usually heating and strengthening for the upper body. Examples of inverted asana are the classic Adho Mukha Svasana (Downward Facing Dog), Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), Halasana (Plow), and Sirsasana (Headstand). Pitta can perform these postures but because of the heating properties the holds must be short and the breath smooth and cooling. Vata can also be reduced by utilizing these postures with long holds and the intention of being still and stable. Stillness and grounding in these postures are very important to reduce vata instead of aggravating it by increasing stress and strain in postures done too forcefully or too much activity. These postures are ideal for reducing Kapha, but excess weight could cause difficulties for Kaphic practitioners so these poses can be modified to accommodate the ability of the individual. For over weight individuals start inverted asanas with short holds to build strength, working towards moderate holds with normal breathing. The intention should also be one of activity with the practitioner holding the intention of lifting and working these heating poses.
Copyright (c) 2010 Rick Roux
by: Rick Roux
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