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.

Pitta individuals should maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrendering or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine of to those in need of positive healing energy. Because asana practice tends to generate heat in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release excess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses that open the chest.

Pitta Pacifying Asanas:

* Sitting postures (all except Lion pose).
* Moon salutation (Chandra Namaskar).
* Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar), done slowly.
* Standing postures. The best are the ones that open the hips:
Tree pose, Konasana (all variations) and Virabhadrasana (Warrior), Prasarita Padottanasana (expanded leg forward stretch), and Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon).
* Shoulderstands in all its variations, also Shashangasana (Rabbit)
* Back bending and chest opening postures like Cobra, Camel, Bow, Fish, and Bridge pose.
* Posture that compress Surya Chakra or the solar plexus such as Hidden Lotus, Alligator, and Bow pose.
* All sitting forward bend, especially Upavistha Konasana, Janushirshasana, Kurmasana (Tortoise), and Paschimottanasana.
* Yoga Mudra.
* All spinal twisting postures.

Well balanced pitta sequence:

1. Chandra NamaskarUtthita
2. Trikonasana
3. Parivrtta Trikonasana
4. Prasarita Padottanasana
5. Seated Spinal Twist
6. Navasana
7. Locust
8. Bow
9. Camel
10. Extended Childs Pose
11. Shoulderstand
12. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Half Bridge)
13. Fish
14. Crocodile Twist
15. Janu Sirsasana
16. Virasana (with So Ham Breathing)
17. Corpse Pose (Shavasana).


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