As a sister science of Ayurveda, Yoga is an excellent exercise and spiritual practice to incorporate in your daily routine for balancing your individual constitution. Although many yoga poses or asanas are beneficial to each of the doshas, the greatest benefit for balancing your dosha comes from your approach and the way you practice the pose. A yoga practice for a Kapha individual should be one creating space, stimulation, warmth and buoyancy. Kaphas can cultivate this by following some basic guidelines:
- Practice at a vigorous pace and intensity.
- Focus on the subtlety of the pose and how it creates an expansive presence in the body and energy field.
- Practice in a warm space.
- Use a strong forceful breath during practice.
- When you are ready to release the pose, take one more breath.
- Keep your chest and shoulders open and lifted as you practice.
- Have a sharp upward gaze.
- Feel a sense of lightness in your poses.
- Pause for a moment between your inhalations and exhalations.
- Challenge yourself.
- Keep moving. Have short resting periods between poses.
- Enjoy a restorative pose for final relaxation.
- Be precise in your poses.
- Pay close attention to your alignment.
- Dont give up!
Most of the standing poses are invigorating, especially if you hold them for a longer time. Try maintaining your asanas for up to 20 breaths. Backbends are also heating, helping to open the chest and circulate the life-giving energy of prana throughout the body. Kapha types have the most stamina and strength of all the doshas, but when out of balance, suffer from lethargy and excess weight. If you are predominantly Kapha, a stimulating, energizing yoga practice is ideal. It’s important to challenge yourself and create heat in your body, to counter Kapha’s natural tendency to feel cold and sluggish. Move through your flow sequences quickly (though always with conscious awareness) to lighten and warm your body.
Doing your yoga in the early morning hours of Kapha (6–10am) will help keep you more energized and motivated throughout the day. At the beginning or end of your practice, you can practice bhastrika or bellows breath, which cleanses the body and energizes the digestive system.
The ultimate goal of yoga is to connect to your true Divine essence and expand your consciousness. Whether you are predominantly Vata, Pitta, or Kapha, stay focused on your intention to stay present and take your yoga practice to a deeper level. The yogic sage Patanjali wrote, “Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence. When the mind has settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded consciousness.”
Reminders about Kapha Doshha:
Qualities of Kapha: Heavy, slow, steady, solid, cold, soft, oily
Physical Characteristics: Kapha types have a strong build and excellent stamina. Large, soft eyes; smooth, radiant skin; and thick hair are also important Kapha characteristics. Those who are predominantly Kapha sleep soundly and have regular digestion. But when Kapha builds to excess, weight gain, fluid retention, and allergies manifest in the body. When they’re out of balance, Kapha types may become overweight, sleep excessively, and suffer from asthma, diabetes, and depression.
Emotional Characteristics: Kaphas are naturally calm, thoughtful, and loving. They have an inherent ability to enjoy life and are comfortable with routine. When in balance, Kaphas are strong, loyal, patient, steady, and supportive. People with an excess of Kapha tend to hold on to things, jobs, and relationships long after they are no longer nourishing or necessary. Excess Kapha in the mind manifests as resistance to change and stubbornness. In the face of stress, the typical Kapha response is “I don’t want to deal with it.”