Exercise Your Way to Health with Ayurveda by Shreelata Suresh

Do not look on exercise only as the means to another goal such as attaining an ideal weight or being able to compete in an athletic event. Exercise because in itself it is a health-giving activity when done properly.

When exercising, focus on your breathing and the activity you are engaged in, instead of seeking diversion in the form of television or a magazine. Your positive attention on your work-out will add to the therapeutic benefits of the exercise program.

To enhance circulation and the elimination of toxins, ayurvedic healers recommend that exercise be preceded by abhyanga, the ayurvedic warm oil self-massage.

Customize Type of Exercise by Dosha

Ayurveda describes three psycho-physiological principles or doshas-Vata, Pitta and Kapha-that determine our constitution and personalities. Ayurvedic healers recommend that you choose the type of exercise you do, as well as its intensity and duration, based on your predominant dosha and your individual needs for balance.

If you have more Vata in your constitution, you gravitate towards quick bursts of high activity. You are quick to start an exercise program, but also likely to give it up just as quickly. Your mind is constantly in a whirl.

The ideal exercise options to balance Vata should incorporate slow movements, not be too tiring, and help settle the mind and body. Slow dancing, low impact aerobics, tai chi, leisurely swimming in warm water, badminton, walking and yoga are examples of Vata-balancing exercise activities.

If you are Pitta-predominant, you tend to be fiercely competitive and demanding of yourself. You like to not only compete but win. You look for individual activities that require strength, focus and speed. You tend to get frustrated when you fall short of your goals.

To keep the fire element in balance, exercise options should allow for enjoyment as well as competitiveness, and be cooling for mind and body. Water, ice or snow based activities such as swimming, downhill skiing, rowing, surfing and water-skiing are good choices. Walking or jogging in a cool shady area, tennis and yoga are also good Pitta-balancing options.

Kapha-predominant persons excel at activities requiring endurance and doggedness. They like team sports and do not get upset if the scoreboard is not in their favor. They might not always be motivated to exercise, preferring a more sedentary lifestyle.

Activities to balance Kapha should draw on the strength and endurance power of the Kapha individual but also seek to stimulate and generate intensity and liveliness. Distance walking or running, basketball, racquetball, football, aerobics, ice skating, cross country skiing and cycling are examples of Kapha-balancing exercise activities.

Note: This information is educational in nature and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.

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BIO:

Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor who lives in the Bay Area. She writes for various publications on yoga, ayurveda and Indian culture. For more articles on ayurveda and premier ayurvedic products, please visit http://www.ayurbalance.com.

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