May 19, 2009
A Pitta person is generally of medium build, athletic, tend to feel warmer and dislike being in the sun. Pittas are fiery. When balanced they are intelligent, driven, productive, leaders, competent, athletic and have good stamina. Unbalanced, however, can mean being belligerent, overbearing, bossy, competitive, blaming others for their errors or being aggressive. Pranayama breath work can help cool the fires of Pitta without quenching them.
Below is a simple breath exercise to try out:
1. Start by taking a brief walk, even doing a few push-ups or other kind of physical activity to release obvious tension. Doing so will make it easier for active Pitta people to sit still for pranayama.
2. Sit cross-legged on the floor on a folded blanket or pillow or in a chair where your spine is straight and your lungs easily inflate.
3. Inhale through the nose and open the mouth, stick the tongue out, making a “ha” sound. This may be more satisfying than you realize. Repeat 3 to 5 times and then close the mouth, returning to normal breathing.
4. Close the eyes and inhale to 1/3 of your capacity to the lower belly, pause.
5. Inhale another third to the level of the chest, pause. Inhale the last third to the sternum, top of the chest, pause. Exhale smoothly all the breath out. Take several recovery breaths. Repeat 3 to 5 more times. Rest.
6. Establishing a regular pranayama practice every morning is the traditional way to invite prana (life force) and direct it in a way to nourish the nadis (energetic pathways in the body). It is one way to self-regulate one’s short fuse and can be a way to literally blow off steam.
7. Continue your pranayama daily for 30 days, practicing at the same time each day and in the same room if possible. Over time, your central nervous system will anticipate your pranayama and you may find it is too valuable to skip
Categories: Ayurvedic, Pitta, Pranayama.
May 19, 2009
In Ayurveda there are three main mind-body, or doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata represents the elements of air and ether. The Vata body type is generally slender with a small-boned frame. Vatas people find it difficult to gain weight and they tend to thrive on constant activity, be it mental or physical. Dryness is a constant in their live be it dry hair, skin, or a tendency to constipation. Vata people are in general very talkative, sometimes to excessive. Pranayama, or breath work, is one way to help ground the constant worry and anxiety that can overwhelm a Vata who is not balanced.
Below is a common Pranayama exercise to help balance the Vata energy in your body:
1. Begin by sitting in a comfortable chair or in a cross-legged position on the floor. If your knees are higher than your hips then sit on a folded blanket or pillow or chair. Your spine should be upright but not rigid. Breath work for Vata should help ground them to the earth element to balance the movement of air and ether.
2. Close off the right nostril with the right thumb. Inhale through the left nostril softly. Close off the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Repeat in this way for 7 to 10 rounds smoothly without hurry or force.
3. Practice this pranayama daily for a month, adding one to two rounds each week. Notice if you feel your chest tighten: you may be inhaling too quickly of too fully. Nadi shodhana is alternate nostril breathing and meant to balance the two main energetic nadis: ida (solar) and pingala (lunar).
4. A very short breath exercise to help you remain calm at work or in a challenging situation. It is a three-part breath exercise. Sitting with eyes closed, inhale to the belly about 1/3 of your capacity, pause. Inhale another third to the chest level, pause. Inhale to the collarbones, pause. Exhale slowly.
5. Take several normal breaths. Repeat once more. Rest by breathing normally. This variation can be done with the eyes opened and is barely noticeable and can help dispel toxins from the lungs and calm down a Vata’s racing mind (and tongue)
Categories: Ayurvedic, Pranayama, Vata.
