Yoga Exercises and Ayurveda - Adjusting Your Pace of Yoga Exercises and Yoga Breathing For Balance

When you know your Ayurvedic constitution you can make important choices regarding your speed and style of practice of yoga exercises and yoga breathing. While Yoga Exercises means a lot more than physical movement, this focus is on the physical aspect of yoga. The principles given here can be applied both while in the yoga pose, and in day to day living to achieve comfort in the body and a quiet mind.

Let's take 3 key qualities of your body mind according to Ayurveda: strength of body, temperature of body, and stability of mind, and apply these to a yoga pose, the basic standing pose, Tadasana.

Strong Body

If you have thin bones, your constitution might be weaker than someone with a stocky build. You may both look the same holding the pose, yet you'll begin to feel tired sooner. What's happening on the inside is totally different. Focus on your connection with the ground and peacefully refocus whenever the mind wanders.

Those with a stronger body can focus on yoga breathing. Yoga breathing is breathing appropriately, filling the lungs from top to bottom, or bottom to top in restful breathing. Ideally everyone would be practicing yoga breathing while holding the pose; it's the focus of attention that is different.

Stability of Mind

If the mind is dull and lethargic, large upward movement of the arms will stimulate the body mind. While standing in Tadasana, raise arms overhead. You may even create a flow of movement, raising the arms on the inhalation and lowering them on the exhalation.

If on the other hand the mind is very active, pick a spot and focus the eyes on that spot to experience some stability. You may also focus the mind on the connection of the feet with the ground. Another choice is to silently repeat a word like "strength" or "peace" on the exhalation. Choose a word that has the greatest impact for you.

Temperature of Body

Always feeling cold? Build heat with stronger breathing during the yoga pose, especially in the cold seasons. Breathe into chest first, then abdomen second. Pay attention that your breathing is smooth and consistent. Use strong breathing to create heat in the body.

If on the other hand your body temperature tends to be hot, avoid over-heating by breathing bottom up, abdomen first chest second. Or you may breathe top down smoothly, quietly and gently. Relax your effort a bit to experience more coolness and less fire.

Learn more about your body according to Ayurveda and do have a safe practice.

And now, I'd like to invite you to claim your free download of guided relaxation, and information on other healing strategies when you visit http://www.yogatogo.com/ and please sign up for our newsletter for more tips for your healing journey.

From Heather Greaves - The Self Care Expert and Body Therapies Yoga Training.

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About Ayurveda - A Historical Look

Ayurveda is possibly the oldest system of traditional healing still practised today. The practice originated in India 5000 years ago and has become popular all over the world. If you have doubts regarding what is Ayurveda, read on to know more on the topic.

Ayurveda is based on bringing the mind, body and soul in balance and a life style incorporating appropriate diet, exercise and spiritual practices like meditation and mantras is prescribed to bring about harmony in life.

History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is possibly the greatest gift of physical and spiritual healing given by India to the world. It is thought to be divine in origin and taught to Acharya Ved Vyas by Lord Brahma.

The oral traditions in Ayurveda were gradually penned by seers and sages in treatises, some of the foremost of which are the Atharva Veda, Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita. Ayurveda evolved into the Athreya School for Physicians and The Sushruta School for Surgeons covering eight branches of medicine.

The Basic Tenets of Ayurveda

Ayurveda propounds that there are five elements in nature: Akash (space), Prithvi (Earth), Vayu (air), Jal (Water) and Fire (Agni). The five elements combine in the human body in various proportions to reflect as Doshas - the three doshas Pitta, Vata and Kapha reflect in different people in different strengths and the predominant dosha is the deciding factor in the line of treatment. The treatment serves to bring the doshas in balance.

Vatta Dosha controls the joints and muscles, heart, respiratory system and those parts of central nervous system controlling fear, pain and anxiety.

Kapha Dosha affects the physiognomy, immunity levels and the emotional tendencies of greed, forgiveness, love and calm.

Pitta Dosha controls the digestive system, rate of metabolism, intelligence and the emotional tendencies of jealousy, anger, intelligence and understanding.

How Ayurveda Works

Ayurveda works on the principle that toxins accumulate in the body and cause an imbalance of doshas. The three toxins in Ayurveda are:

* Ama: This is sticky sludge formed as food gets digested. It is a waste product and must be eliminated to keep the digestive system efficient.

* Amavisha: Ama if not eliminated, turns into its more toxic form, Amavisha. Amavisha makes the excretory system sluggish and the toxins further aggravate the imbalances in the body.

* Garavisha: External toxins in the form of harmful microorganisms, trace metals and impure air harm the body. These fall under this category.

Diet and Ayurveda

Yoga works on the principle that you are what you eat. As per the dosha of the patient being treated, an appropriate diet may be prescribed.

* Diet for Vata Dosha: Cereals, clarified butter, whole grains, onions, garlic, okra, turnips, all sweet fruits

* Diet for Pitta Dosha: All fruits and vegetables, sprouts

* Diet for Kapha Dosha: Dry food cooked without oil, salads, and dried fruits.

Perception about Ayurveda varies - there are many cases where Ayurvedic treatments have been very effective and there are critics who are against such unconfirmed medical practices. That being said, Ayurveda has been around for ages, and this medical practice is a key part of India's heritage.

For more information about What is Ayurveda in India, Please visit our website About Ayurveda

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The Connection of Yoga and Ayurveda

Yoga and Ayurveda are intimately woven together throughout the texts of the Vedas. The Vedas are ancient Indian spiritual texts that were compiled over a period of time beginning approximately 3,000 years ago in the Himalayan region of India. These texts are considered to be divinely revealed and are comprised of oral esoteric knowledge transposed into written form. The practices of Yoga and Ayurveda are considered to be complementary modalities for living a healthy, balanced and happy life.

When practiced together, Ayurveda and Yoga techniques offer an individual many ways to increase health, well-being and vitality while living in balance with the natural rhythms that surround us. Both Yoga and Aruyveda acknowledge and respect the profound connections between our mind, body and spirit. Practicing balance and moderation are two of the primary keys of Aruyveda. This concept of balance and moderation has its roots in the Buddhist concept of Devanagari that arose during the same time period in India. Practicing Yoga asanas, meditation techniques and breathing exercises in balance with the rhythm of the day, week and time of the year is also one of the core proponents of Vedic wisdom.

One of the primary focuses of Aruyveda is eliminating toxins from the body and mind through the practice of panchakarma. According to Ayurvedic wisdom, expunging toxins from the body on a yearly basis helps to re-invigorate the body by maintaining a healthy metabolism and keeping the digestive processes efficient while reducing strain on the liver and kidneys. Ayurvedic theory espouses the belief that when the energy channels in the body or mind are blocked, disease results. Many of the traditional Ayurvedic techniques focus on unblocking these vital channels and restoring optimal energy flow. The use of stream and sweating is also employed by Ayurvedic doctors to help dissipate blockages in a patient's energy system.

Releasing tension and blockages throughout the energy system of the body-mind complex is complemented beautifully by a regular Yoga practice. Yoga asanas, whether they are vigorous or restorative in nature, help to release deeply-held muscular tension and increase balance and flexibility. There are even some Yoga practices that are done in a heated room further enhancing the purifying aspect of the asanas. Combining Yoga practices with the great depth of wisdom found in Ayurveda will deeply support a Yogi or Yogini in creating and maintaining physical and emotional vitality, health and well-being throughout the course of his or her lifetime.

© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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