Exercise for your dosha – this is a precious piece of advice given to us by Ayurvedic experts. As per Ayurveda, there are three mind-body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These are known as doshas. Since each of them has individual characteristics, weaknesses and needs, one’s exercise routine should be well suited to one’s dosha. In this post, we share important information on the right kind of Vata exercise, Pitta exercise, and Kapha exercise.
Exercise For Your Dosha
1. Vata Dosha Exercise Tips
Vata Qualities:
This dosha is dominated by the elements of ether and space. If you are a Vata type, you love speed, freedom, and flexibility. You are enthusiastic and enjoy new challenges.
On the downside, you often feel anxious, tired, and emotionally overwhelmed. Physically, you tend to have insufficient body weight and light bones. You also tend to overexert yourself.
How To Exercise For Vata Dosha:
- If you are a Vata type, you need a form of exercise that is grounding, balancing, and stabilising.
- Vata dosha exercise should also be slow. Of course, you can bring your heart rate up, but make sure that you follow it up with something relaxing.
- Since Vata bodies are cold, do Vata dosha exercise in a warm environment – in the warm Sun, and indoors during the winter.
- Establishing a regular exercise routine would benefit your mind immensely.
- Listen to your body and stop when you need to. Focus on regularity and grounding rather than speed and effort.
- Be mindful in your movements – this increases a sense of grounding.
Examples Of Vata Dosha Exercise:
- Yin yoga, Ashtanga, and hot yoga
- Dancing
- Strength training (to build muscle and strengthen bones)
- Mindful walking – especially in nature
- Tai chi
- Light cycling
- Trekking
2. Pitta Dosha Exercise Tips
Pitta Qualities:
This dosha is ruled by fire and water. If you are dominated by Pitta, you are fiery, competitive, ambitious, and energetic. You are a leader and love hard, intense work.
But you get easily angry, impatient, and jealous. Your digestion is typically strong but may suffer from acidity, ulcers, and skin problems like rashes. You may take competition too seriously. Pitta dosha exercise helps cool the body and brings balance.
How To Exercise For Your Dosha:
- It’s important for Pitta folks to take it slow and not focus on the competitive aspect of exercise.
- Just like Vata types, you may overexert yourself. So, listen to your body.
- Pitta is quite hot. So, Pitta dosha exercise is best done in a cool environment. Sweating also helps cool your body down.
- Practise smooth exercises rather than rough and tough ones.
- If you like intense exercise, combine it with restorative activities too, such as meditation.
- It’s a great idea to practise grounding exercises, and also in the midst of nature – as long as it’s not too hot outside.
- Remember to get enough of rest.
Examples Of Good Pitta Dosha Exercise:
- Swimming
- Winter sports
- Restorative forms of yoga like yin yoga
- Cycling in nature
- Mindful walking
- Jogging
3. Kapha Dosha Exercise Tips
Kapha Qualities:
The Kapha dosha is made up of earth as well as water. It is slow, stable, and heavy. If you are a Kapha type, you have the qualities of steadiness, patience, calmness, and endurance. You have well-formed muscles and bones.
Problems faced by you include excess body weight, sluggishness, depression, excess phlegm, and water retention. You can easily feel lazy, resistant to change, and unmotivated. But Kapha dosha exercise can help manage these problems.
How To Exercise For Your Dosha:
- Kapha dosha exercise should be fast, upbeat, and intense. Anything that increases your heart rate is good for you.
- Sweating is extremely helpful for you, since it promotes weight loss.
- Since your dosha is cold, make sure that you practise in a warm environment – in the Sun or indoors when it’s cold outside.
- You would benefit from some competitiveness.
- Be open to trying out new kinds of activities every once in a while.
- Make sure that you get some kind of movement everyday, to counter the sluggish nature of Kapha.
- Try listening to upbeat music while working out, since this can offer you a pep up.
Examples Of Good Kapha Dosha Exercise:
- Adventure sports
- Aerobics
- Competitive games like football
- Marathons
- Hiking
- Swimming in warm water
- Bikram yoga
Note: Posts on Ayurvedum are solely for the purpose of sharing the goodness of Ayurveda and bringing awareness about natural and healthy living. Please do not substitute it for professional medical advice. Ingredients discussed can interfere with certain medications. So, before using anything to treat yourself, always consult an Ayurveda doctor or practitioner.
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