Ayurveda recommended and devised a deep-rooted beauty approach about 5000 years back and Yoga has always been a part of this approach because Ayurveda believes that our health and beauty thrive on balance in everything we eat, do and the way we live.
The state of inner balance gets disturbed when we eat too much or too less, high sugars and refined foods, hydrogenated oils, lead a stressful life, live a sedentary lifestyle and the way we shape our thoughts and reality.
To return to our natural state of being and inner balance, we must practice everything that helps us get back to a state of inner balance. While Ayurveda recommends diet and lifestyle to attain back the state of inner balance, Yoga, breathwork and meditation help us balance the tendencies of the mind that cause deep internal shifts leading to chronic health and skin conditions. Therefore, regular Yoga practice is imperative for living an Ayurveda way of life for health and beauty. While Yoga practice brings balance in the doshas dominating our body and mind, breathwork & meditation practices help us calm and quieten the mind.
How Yoga & Ayurveda Help Balance Doshas - The Root Cause of All Imbalances
To get back to a state of deep inner balance, you must know your dosha type because no diet or lifestyle can help you heal within unless the energies of your imbalanced doshas are brought back to balance.
Doshas can be understood as a set of body-mind imbalances that every individual possesses. Ayurveda broadly describes these set of imbalances as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These forces are present in everybody in different degrees and even in the nature. If any of the dosha becomes dominant in an individual due to one's inner our outer environment, it gives rise to physical manifestations of the doshas that show up in health and skin conditions.
Often times two doshas at the same time are dominant in each individual and the body-mind characteristics help us identify the dominant doshas. For each dominant dosha type, Ayurveda and Yoga recommend a specific set of guidelines with regard to diet, lifestyle, exercise, relaxation and selfcare.
Identifying Vata Dosha
Vata dosha is often characterized by a boney, slim body frame. Their skin tends to feel dry and rough and nature-wise they come across as talkative and creative beings. Their nervous system may be the most hit system in the body because nervous system is under the influence of vata energy. When out of balance, vata dominated people come across as fearful, stressed and insecure people.
A regular and stable yoga practice helps vata people find their peace and calm with discipline in slow movements. It helps them stabalize emotions and stay balanced and calm. Backward bends, pelvis and large intestine supporting asanas support vata dosha.
Identifying Pitta Dosha
Pitta dosha types are characterized by a medium built, curvy posture and strong metabolism. Pitts dosha types are passionate people with a charming personality and witty mentality. Pitta dosha types often serve as leaders and decision makers with a sense of deep intelligence. Emotions of anger and irritability are the manifestations of imbalanced pitta energy.
Pitta dominated people must practice yoga asanas that help them cool down as they are high on heat related body tendencies. Forward folds bring calmness and tranquility to pitta dominated people. Postures that help stimulate the liver and intestinal area such as triangle or tortoise pose are also great for pitta dominated types.
Identifying Kapha Dosha
Kapha dosha types are characterized by round and heavy builts and are considered to be the most stable people when in balance. They possess the earth like qualities such as being stable, exuding strength and stamina. When imbalanced, kapha types may come across as lazy people hiding from challenges.
The ideal yoga practices for kapha include stimulation and creating heat and fire in the body. Sun salutations to enhance internal heat and stimulate circulation are great for kapha types. Kapha types must also focus on stomach (the site of fire), lungs, and the chest area. Asanas that help balance kapha dosha include the lion and half-moon pose.