Yoga practice for Kapha: the best choices for your Dosha

Most people don’t know that yoga is profoundly connected to Ayurveda, and because of that, it can work as a preventive medicine to the body and mind. Ayurveda uses the theory of doshas to prescribe different lifestyles and choices for people, and one of them is a modified yoga practice. Here we’re going to tell you all about the yoga practice for Kapha.

The Vedas consider all the systems are composed and divided into three principles: vital energy, light or knowledge and unity; these are then organized into Indra, Agni and Soma, respectively: air, fire and water.

There are three primordial elements every system and in the human body: air, fire and water; and these correspond to doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurveda recognizes these principles as the three dosas, Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water/hearth). 

Yoga practice for Kapha

Dosha means a fail or flaw, what causes decline. According to Ayurveda, the unbalance of the doshas the causes illness in the human body.

We all have a unique composition of the doshas, which is called prakrti. When someone is considered a Kapha, that means the earth element is present in a higher amount compared to the other elements. That means, that to keep the right balance and health, a Kapha person needs to follow the advice for a Kapha life, these go way beyond the yoga practice, and are also connected to eating and other daily habits.

Yoga and Ayurveda are allies: from one side the Indian medicine allows the understanding of our body and mind and how to act with it to achieve balance; and yoga teaches the techniques to achieve that balance, that can be divided in asanas, pranayama and meditation.

According to Ayurveda teachings, we can formulate a yoga practice for dosha Kapha. Keep reading and start to understand the characteristics of Kapha. 

Dosha Kapha characteristics

Kapha dosha is associated with brings things together, with permanence.

Kapha is what sustains, the physical and emotional support, connected to love, compassion, modesty, patience and forgiveness.

Physically, Kaphas are usually strong and healthy, with a well-developed musculature, large and heavy, the negative part of it is that very easily they put on the extra weight and have a hard time to lose it. Kapha people are very romantic and sentimental, but they can become too attached as well.

Practice for each dosha: Kapha

The goal of the yoga practice is health, both physical and mental. Although yoga is an excellent physical practice, when performed in the wrong way, it can produce harmful effects. Because of that, it’s necessary that you know your dosha and the natural negative tendencies your mind has when you practice yoga. Don’t worry, the solution is really simple, and there is a yoga practice for dosha Kapha.

There are two ways to manage the asana practice according to your dosha:

1. Your attitude towards the asana: it applies to those who people who follow a universal sequence, like Ashtanga;
2. Choosing different asanas.

The first aspect is more important to understand. Although yoga is fantastic, is critical to realize that the right asana, made with the wrong intention, can end up in creating problems to the practitioner.

When it comes to Kapha, it’s quite easy to understand. Kapha is that one person that does everything slowly never tries its best and doesn’t feel the need to show off by accepting another challenge. Because of that, and quite different from the indications for Pitta and Vata doshas, people from Kapha must be encouraged to go deeper and faster, and to accept challenges.

Pay attention, lethargy must not be confused with a state of inner peace, and the practice has to be energetic and dynamic to produce the right effects. Like every person resists to what is better for them, Kapha will resist to this practice, but they need i.

About the second aspect, the asanas appropriated to each dosha, the better ones for Kapha are those who bring rhythm and deep breathing. Standing positions are essential, as well as an extension. The seated asanas should not be kept for too long. Inversions, like handstands and headstands, are great!

Let’s see some possible choices:

1. Surya Namaskar A and B (with jumps)
2. Virabhadrasana II
3. Utthita Parsvakonasana
4. Ardha Chandrasana
5. Virabhadrasana I and III
6. Parivrtta Trikonasana
7. Adho Mukha Vrksasana
8. Vasisthasana
9. Udhva Dhanurasana
10. Navasana
11. Upavistha Konasana
12. Sirsasana
13. (short) Savasana

Nowadays, with many problems of obesity in some countries, it can happen that even people who have not the natural tendency of Kapha, end up with an unbalance of this dosha. If you feel too lazy and your energy is low, try on these tips and see the improvements in all aspects of your life.

You may also like:

• Yoga practice for Vata
• Yoga practice for Pitta
• Yoga: the ultimate guide for types and benefits
• 5 indispensable floor asanas for your yoga practice
• Pranayama: improve your vital energy