The use of asana (yoga poses), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, yogic exercises are chosen to best support the individual and are practiced daily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies.

For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into consideration the individual body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.

Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous exercise. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, warming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Vinyasa or flow style yoga is good for kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.

Kapha Reducing Asanas:

* Sun salutations (done quickly): stimulate, lighten and heat the body
* All standing poses, especially:
Virabhadrasana (Warrior)
Prasarita Padottanasana (Expanded Spread Foot)
Tadasana (Palm Tree Pose)
Downward dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Upward Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
* Lion Pose
* All inverted poses.
* All back bends and poses that compress the navel like Locust, Bow, Peacock, and Alligator.
* Seated twists.
* Nauli Kriya (Stomach Rolling or Intestinal wash).
* Elevated lotus, Mayurasana (Peacock), Vajrasana.

Well balanced kapha sequence:

1. Surya Namaskar (vigorously, or jumping style)
2. Palm TreeWarrior I & II
3. Prasarita Padottanasana
4. Downward Dog
5. Seated Spinal Twist
6. Purvottanasana
7. Gomukasana
8. Bharadvajasana (Seated twist)
9. Lion
10. Jathara Parivartanasana
11. Halasana
12. Shoulderstand
13. Fish
14. Corpse Pose (Shavasana).


© Blue Lotus Ayurveda, LLC. No reproduction allowed in whole or in part without written consent. www.bluelotusayurveda.com