209-The Ayurvedic Approach to Moving Your Body Daily

August 27, 2019

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I'm here to help you integrate the timeless principles of Ayurveda, lunar wisdom, and menstrual cycle alignment effortlessly into your daily routine.

I'm Andrea - your Seasonal living guide

Welcome to the Peaceful Power Podcast today we are diving into what Ayurveda says about movement.

Finding your true why

Before we even dive into what Ayurveda says the number one thing to look at when moving your body is asking yourself why? Why do you want to move? After you have the first layer ask yourself that again 2 more times. Usually the why we have is a deep seated why. For example- my father is hunched over and rounded in his spine, I need to move my body, stay mobile, and strong to help prevent it as much as I can. Or I see how much someone I love is suffering from lack of movement and I want to live a different way.

Ayurvedic Take on Movement

In Ayurveda we have 3 doshas- vata, pitta & kapha. We have all 3 in us in varying amounts. I like to move based on what my doshas are saying. We can further break down the doshas into 20 gunas (qualities in our body) but that’s a discussion for another day.

You would want to perform the movement based on what’s going on in your body that day. For example- You feel scattered, anxious, and ungrounded. That means your vata dosha might be a little off and we can build our movement practice based on that.

Vata Dosha Characteristics

  • Connected to the air & space
  • Dry skin
  • Always cold
  • Capable of fast
  • Unpredictable movements & thoughts
  • Tends to have a smaller body frame
  • Scattered thoughts
  • Bitter taste
  • Easily fatigues
  • Tends to be constipated
  • Feels anxious
  • Feels restless
  • Worries too much
  • Loves music

Pitta Dosha Characteristics

  • Aligned with fire
  • Tends to run warm
  • Competitive personality
  • Determined
  • Tends to have a medium body frame
  • Sour taste
  • Doesn’t tolerate hot weather well
  • Good combination skin
  • Critical or demanding
  • Perfectionist
  • Often frustrated or angry
  • Impatient
  • Premature hair graying or thinning

Kapha Dosha Characteristics

  • Combination of earth & water
  • Moves more slowly
  • Graceful
  •  Loyal
  • Stable
  • Takes motivation to make them get up to work out
  • Slow to start a task, but once they’re in it they are a go-getter
  • Tends to have a larger body frame
  • Sweet & salty taste
  • Oily skin
  • Slow digestion
  • Tends to oversleep
  • Often feels complacent or dull

Vata dosha workouts

Characteristics of a vata workout:

  • Something slower paced to help relieve anxiety and scattered thoughts
  • They will want something fast and upbeat, but they need to find the balance offset and slow in their routines
  • Needs routine in their workouts
  • Regular meditation is key for vatas
  • 4 p.m. or early morning is an ideal time for vata workouts

Types of workouts:

  • Yoga: hatha, yin, restorative, slow flow classes
    (In addition, choose grounding poses and limit time in back-bending postures.)
  • Long walks help calm the mind
  • Lifting weights: high reps, low weight
  • Isometric workout routines

In general, do moves that are pelvis stabilizing and use abdominal strength.

 

Pitta dosha workouts

Characteristics of a pitta workout:

• Limited competitiveness when exercising if you feel out of balance

• Medium pace workout
• Uncomplicated movements
• Creative workout

• Regular meditation
• Typically over the noon hour is a good time for pittas to workout

Types of workouts:

• Yoga: Vinyasa, yin, hatha, Jivamukti (Avoid hip-closing postures.)

• Walks
• Medium weight, 10-12 reps
• Sports to fuel the competitive side

Kapha dosha workouts

Characteristics of a Kapha workout:

• Faster-paced workouts are ideal

• Multi-body part movements
• Group environment
• Creative workout

• Use vigorous pace
• Limit savasana
• An evening workout is what kaphas tend to enjoy the best

Types of workouts:

• Yoga: Ashtanga, vinyasa, power yoga

• Brisk walks
• Heavy to medium weights, 8-12 reps

• Group fitness classes

• Dancing

 In the end Ayurveda is about knowing yourself and what your body needs today. That is how I like to start my yoga classes asking what the class needs. I really do like to have everyone say something so they feel apart of the group collective and to have them tune into their own bodies.

Topics Discussed

  • Finding your true why
  • What Ayurveda says about movement
  • How to find pockets of time in your day to move
  • Dosha Characteristics
  • Working out for your dosha

Weekly Challenge:

How can you workout according to the dosha in need this week?

Where to connect with Andrea

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explore the blog

Ayurvedic Pregnancy 

How to do a Castor Oil Pack

You'll also love

search the post index

MORE ABOUT ME

I'm here to help you integrate the timeless principles of Ayurveda, lunar wisdom, and menstrual cycle alignment effortlessly into your daily routine.

I'm Andrea - your Seasonal living guide

LEarn My Story

I specialize in pre/postpartum wellness through an Ayurvedic lens. Pre/postpartum fitness has been something I've focused on for 17 years now and is my passion & calling in life. 

I host a weekly podcast, Peaceful Power Podcast and have written two cyclical living books- Divine Body Wisdom and Ayurvedic Approach to Healing Your Menstrual Cycle. 

I graduated from Shakti School in 2019 as an Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. I'm a 500 HR Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic postpartum doula graduate from Inner Sun & Moon AyurDoula Program. 

My other interests are playing tennis, watching the Hallmark Channel, and enjoying my morning cup of coffee. I also love exploring my favorite nature trail with my two boys and hubby. 

I'm an Ayurvedic Wellness counselor, Ayurvedic postpartum doula & 500 HR Yoga Teacher and Personal trainer since 2007.

I'm Andrea — your Ayurveda & Yoga  Guide to Postpartum Healing.

Learn what practices are best to live in alignment with the current season. You will also receive a yoga asana practice, seasonal tips, two Ayurvedic seasonal recipes and dosha pacifying practices. 

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