Not all yoga is good for you!
What yoga is right for you?
There are so many types of yoga out there- hot yoga, power yoga, yin yoga, hatha yoga, yang yoga, yang / yin yoga, flow yoga, vinyasa yoga, ashtanga yoga, rocket yoga, iyengar yoga, vini yoga … the list goes on.
How do you know what yoga is right for you?
The answer will always be it depends!
Firstly we must gain an understanding on what is the fundamental purpose of yoga, why do we practice? If you look up the definition of yoga you will get hundreds of different answers, that's what's beautiful about yoga! However there is one common thread in all the different definitions and that is;
Yoga is about experiencing a state of UNION of mind, body and spirit.
Different traditions will call it different names Samadhi, Moksha, Nirvana - a state of enlightening, self realisation or liberation. The catch is we can not reach a state of liberation if the mind is busy, turbulent or distracted. So first we must find a state of balance and harmony within the mind and body before we can access “higher states of consciousness”.
Through the lens of Ayurveda yoga is a remedy to bring balance to our constitution, create longevity for the body and ultimately heal our vessel so that spirit can dwell.
We learn in ayurveda that our physical, mental, and emotional health is a unique blend of the natural elements. The imbalance of the elements reveals to us how to take care of our UNIQUE body and mind so that each individual can walk the right path of yoga for them. To understand this you must have an understanding of the Doshas and their unlying qualities. If you're not sure on what the Doshas are, check out our previous post so you can gain a deeper understanding.
Once you understand what Dosha you may be presenting as, you can practice yoga in a way that creates balance and harmony for your mind and body. Without a balanced healthy mind and body, there is no enlightenment.
Yoga for the Doshas
Space & Air combine to form Vata.
Vata governs the principles of movement and alertness.
When aggravated it may result in restlessness, feeling scattered, anxious, indecisive, insomnia, IBS, intolerant of the cold and excessive thinking. A vata person generally is always moving and always busy yet doesn't seem to complete or finish projects as they seem to get distracted or move onto the next project.
When balanced, a vata constitution is the birthplace of innovation! Fueled by creativity, visions, enthusiasm and lots of energy!
Yoga that creates balance would be a practice with space for more stillness than movement. A vata constitution would greatly benefit from yin, meditation and yoga nidra.
Water & Fire combine to form Pita.
Pita governs transformation and assimilation.
When aggravated it may result in frustration, anger, perfectionism, criticalness, irritability, skin issues, inflammation, excessive body heat and perspiration. A pitta person generally has highly detailed focus, breaks down problems to find solutions and is highly driven towards success.
When balanced, a pitta constitution is the passion of our world! They are the go getters, the inspiration and hold people to live into their highest potential.
Yoga that creates balances for Pitta constituion would be a gentle hatha practice or yin. In saying that yin can sometimes frustrate a pitta as they feel like they need to be “achieving something”. A gentle hatha practice offers an opportunity to slow down, yet still move with intention and purpose.
Earth & Water combine to form Kapha.
Kapha governs stability and growth.
When aggravated it may result in possessiveness, stubbornness, depression, rigidity, lethargy, constipation, allergies and a slow digestion. A kapha person is someone who likes to take their time with things, they embody the essence of relaxation and take time to deeply consider all avenues before making a decision.
When balanced, a Kapha is someone who you know you can rely on. They have the biggest, kindest, most compassionate heart. Deeply caring for others is second nature to a kapha constitution.
Yoga that creates balance for a Kapha would be something a little more stimulation like a vinyasa class, power yoga or hatha. A yin practice tends to increase their desires to move at a slower pace.
One thing to keep in mind is that our vikriti is always changing! Things that affect your constitution range from diet, lifestyle, work, stress, time of day, season, relationships and monthly cycle. If you are looking to deepen your understanding on how to support yourself we highly recommend Dylan our Ayurvedic teacher and practitioner on our 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. You can find him here at vital veda.