Information About Ayurvedic Medicine Yoga

Ayurveda, "knowledge of life" as translated from Sanskrit, is a system of holistic medicine and wellness practices. Like its sister science, the discipline of yoga, Ayurveda has been in practice for well over 5,000 years and traces its origins to ancient texts called the Vedas. While many might think that the practice of Ayurveda is exclusively a style of traditional Indian medicine, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that Ayurveda is now considered to be a complimentary and alternative medicine system in the United States.

Purpose of Ayurveda

The function of Ayurveda is to help each individual balance the energies of her mind, body and spirit to achieve and maintain overall good health and wellness. In order to do this, each person's individual constitution is assessed and a personalized lifestyle plan is created.

The Doshas

A person's baseline constitution is called the "prakriti" and is exclusive to each individual. Ayurvedic philosophy maintains that there are three main "doshas," or life force energies, that make up each individual's physical and emotional attributes. These baseline qualities are influenced by food intake, digestion and even movement patterns. To help keep a person's dosha in balance, Ayurvedic practitioners often suggest diet modification and certain lifestyle changes and prescribe yoga asanas, or poses, as well as pranayamas, breathing techniques that are specific to the needs of each person.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha

The three main doshas are vata, pitta and kapha, and each has its own unique characteristics. Each of the three doshas are believed to be a blending of two of the five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. The balance of a person's dosha can be caused by factors such as the seasons, amount of physical exertion, age and diet.

Yoga for the Vata Dosha

The vata dosha is a combination of the space and air elements. A predominantly vata person often experience feelings of "spaciness" and can be erratic and have trouble focusing when he is out of balance. Yoga practices to help balance the vata dosha should be slow and gentle in nature to draw the "flighty" energy into focus. Forward bends performed while standing or seated are beneficial, as they stretch the posterior spine and allow the person to "let go." Child's pose is also an excellent pose for someone with excess vata, as the knees in the chest press against the pelvis and help to stimulate digestion, something that often lags in those with excess vata. The most calming yoga pose for balancing the vata constitution is shavasana, the corpse pose.

Yoga for the Pitta Dosha

The pitta dosha is highlighted by the elements fire and water. A predominantly pitta person is often subject to anger and heartburn when he is out of balance. Any yoga practice for the pitta constitution should be cooling in nature. The cat and cow pose is rhythmic and relaxing, and any twisting pose is calming to the pitta system. Side angle pose and revolving triangle are also relaxing to the pitta constitution. Because headstands are heat-creating poses, they should be limited or avoided by pitta practitioners.

Yoga for the Kapha Dosha

The kapha dosha is a blend of the water and earth elements. Anyone with an imbalance of kapha energy feels lethargic and often feels a lack of motivation. Chest-opening asanas like camel pose and bridge pose open the heart and warm the body. A series of sun salutations is also a beneficial way to balance the tendency toward inertia in kapha individuals.