Yoga
for your body type
by
Dr
Deepa Apte
Whether it is food, lifestyle or
exercise, the first question is – what is the correct practice for each
individual? People have started realizing that each individual is unique hence
the attention needed by each one is very different from the others. The diet
which is appropriate for one individual, however complete and wholesome, may not
be good for another. Herbs, lifestyle and even exercise need individualized
attention. Every person has different physical, mental and even spiritual
capabilities and capacities that require specialized attention. One needs to
know what works for each of us, what our body type is and what kind of Yoga we
should practice.
Ayurveda has described three main body
types or Doshas: Vata (air & space), Pitta (fire &
water) and Kapha (water & earth).
Body types or Doshas:
· People with a dominant
Vata Dosha are very creative, imaginative and spontaneous. On the other
hand they can also get quite restless due to the principle of movement.
Physically they are thin, lean, sometimes may have dry skin and scanty hair.
They like warmth and try to avoid cold and dry temperatures. Appetite is quite
irregular to an extent where they may even forget to eat food. Although very
friendly by nature, they can sometimes get quite jealous and possessive. Their
hobbies are art, music, reading, travelling and anything that sets their mind on
the imagination trip. All artists are generally Vata dominant.
· Persons with Pitta
as the dominant Dosha are authoritative, determined, focussed in life. On the
other hand they can also get quite angry, demanding and irritated at the
smallest mistake. This is due to the dominant element of fire in their
constitution. Physically they are moderate built, with warm and soft skin. They
generally prefer a cool atmosphere and get sun burnt when under the sun for a
long time. Their appetite and thirst are strong and tend to eat several small
meals through out the day. Their hobbies are quite intellectual which also
include chess. They generally like all kinds of sports which include both indoor
and outdoor games. All leaders and people at managerial posts are Pitta
dominant.
· Kapha dominant
people are very friendly, social, and easy to be with. But at the same time they
can get quite lazy and have a tendency to postpone things to the last minute.
This is due to the dominant elements of earth and water which have a stable and
cool property. Physically they are well built and have a tendency towards
gaining weight. Their skin is generally soft, cold and moist. They like warm
weather and avoid cold, wet and rainy situations. Appetite is quite stable and
they eat at regular fixed times irrespective of them being hungry or not. Their
hobbies are also very easy and they like watching television or any activity
which does not require a lot of mental and physical activity. They how ever like
water sports a lot.
Ayurveda says one should to live his or
her life according to the body constitution, be it diet, lifestyle or exercises.
Hence even herbs, massages and Yoga advised for each body type is unique.
Yoga for your body type:
Vata Dosha:
People with a dominant Vata Dosha are
restless and prefer a lot of activity. They generally suffer from stiffness,
joint ailments and are prone to injury. Such people require a very gentle way of
practising Yoga.
·
Do not start your Yoga session immediately. Spend some time relaxing and
concentrating on your breath before each session.
·
Perform all Asanas (positions) very slowly avoiding forceful, abrupt
movements.
·
Coordinate each movement with your breathing and perform relaxing deep
breathing exercises while in a certain position.
·
Give your self enough time to relax between two Asanas. Do not quickly move
to the next position.
·
Make sure you spend a long time performing the corpse position (relaxation
position) at the end of each Yoga session.
·
Keep yourself warm while performing the positions.
Pitta Dosha:
Pitta dominating people tend to be
overheated and irritable in times of stress but are at the same time very
disciplined and focussed. They generally need cooling and refreshing yoga
exercises.
·
Start your Yoga session with a short period of relaxation with an aim of
cooling down your body.
·
Asanas can be performed with moderate speed keeping in mind not to tire the
body.
·
Your main aim is to remove heat and tension from the body, hence relaxing
yet cooling Asanas are to be performed.
·
As Pitta dominant people tend to sweat a lot, they should keep the
surrounding cool and airy while exercising.
·
Breathing exercises that cool down the body e.g. Shitali Pranayama are
performed while spending time in a position.
Kapha Dosha:
Persons having a dominant Kapha Dosha
are generally quite relaxed and laid back in life. Such people are prone to
overweight and may suffer from reduced metabolic activities. They must perform
stimulating and energizing Yoga Asanas.
·
You do not require time relaxing before a Yoga session. You can directly
start practising your exercises.
·
Positions can be performed with an increased speed bearing in mind not to
strain the muscles.
·
Producing heat and warmth in the body should be your main aim leading to
increased metabolic activity. Warming breathing exercises help to produce heat
in the body.
·
You can directly move to the next Asana without spending time in relaxation
between positions.
·
Keep yourself warm during each session.
Some Yoga positions helpful for Vata
body type:
·
Sun salutations: 8-10 rounds
·
Head stand
·
Shoulder stand
·
Plough position
·
Tortoise position
·
Half Spinal Twist
·
Corpse position
·
Breathing exercises: breath of fire, alternate nostril breathing
Some Yoga positions helpful for
Pitta body type:
·
Sun salutations: 6-8 rounds
·
Moon salutations
·
Cobra position
·
Half spinal twist
·
Hero pose
·
Forward bend
·
Tortoise pose
·
Breathing exercises: Shitali (cooling breath exercise), alternate nostril
breathing
Some Yoga positions helpful for
Kapha body type:
·
Sun salutations: 10-12 rounds
·
Warrior pose
·
Half moon position
·
Locust
·
Bow position
·
Half spinal twist
·
Headstand
·
Breathing exercises: Breath of fire, Cleansing breath exercise
Dr
Deepa Apté is a fully qualified Indian medical doctor (Bachelor of
Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery, India), a qualified Yoga teacher and an
experienced Ayurvedic physician. She lectures widely on Ayurveda and Yoga (both
in the UK and Germany) and regularly has articles published in the press. After
having run successful practices in India and Germany, she now runs her practice
from London.
www.ayurvedapura.com
www.ayurveda-yoga-practice.com
Tel:
0208 858 0300
© 2006 Dr Deepa Apté
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