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Kapha dosha is the mind-body constitution made up of the elements earth and water. People with a dominant kapha dosha tend to have qualities associated with these elements: stability, groundedness, and fluidity. Typically, kapha types are peaceful, calm, and consistent.
As we get more and more familiar with the physical practice of yoga, we find that we can more easily move into and out of the postures without having to think about them so much, or without having to look around at what the postures should look like. We begin to...
Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution composed of the fire and water elements. These elements give Pitta individuals qualities such as intensity, sharpness, and responsiveness. People with a dominant Pitta dosha are often sociable, knowledgeable, and highly driven.
Vata dosha is the mind-body constitution composed of the air and space elements. These elements give Vata individuals qualities such as lightness, movement, and creativity. People with a dominant Vata dosha are energetic, talkative, and always seeking new experiences. Known for their optimism and curiosity, Vatas are natural idea generators.
The doshas are the three primary mind-body constitutions in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old sister science to yoga. Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe is composed of five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and space (also called ether). These elements combine in different ways to form the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.
Airplane flight sure takes its toll. Between waiting in line, security checks, and overbooked flights, the stress and discomfort of flying begins long before the plane ever takes off. The flight itself, however, is where the real discomfort sets in. Small seats,...
In yoga, you will inevitably encounter challenging postures and movements that might even cause you to avoid them altogether. For example, you may find that Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) is extremely challenging—and you wouldn’t...
On a day-to-day basis, you may not notice all of the changes that are occurring in your yoga practice and that occur as a result of your yoga practice. Over longer periods of time your memory of your original practice begins to fade and you may forget altogether where...
By Jennifer French In the Yoga Sutras, one of yoga’s most sacred and oft referenced texts, Patanjali tells us that our “practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness.*” When I think on firmly grounded, I...
The hardest part of yoga is getting on your mat on a regular basis to practice. It can seem as though there are 30 different reasons for NOT showing up to practice on some days. And often, a lapse in practice can snowball into quite a lengthy period of time. In order...
Quite possibly, you have felt a wave of emotion come over you during yoga class. It may have been sadness, joy, or even a negative sentiment that took you by surprise as you moved through your practice or held a certain pose. Crying...
If you spend a number of hours seated at a desk each day, you have likely felt the strain on your back, hips, legs, and, well, just about everywhere. Sitting for hours is unhealthy, simply put, but you can...
People come to yoga for many reasons. Some want stress relief, some want to nurse an injury, others want to prevent injury, and some want to build strength, flexibility, or both. More and more, people are also coming to yoga as a way to enhance their performance in a particular sport. Any sport can be supported through yoga practice, and since golf and tennis are so popular here in Florida, we’ll focus on the practice of yoga for golfers and tennis players.
At this time of year the heat can seem unbearable at times. Keeping cool becomes a priority throughout the long days and sometimes breezeless nights. If your yoga mat is collecting more dust than you’d like because the thought of working up a sweat is the furthest...
Summertime is in full effect. It’s the perfect time to slow down and take a vacation, either near or far. There is one downside of vacation, however—our regular yoga practice takes a backseat. But it doesn’t have to. While on vacation it can be fun to get creative...
There is something about practicing yoga in a group that really helps you develop your practice. The benefits of practicing yoga with others are many. When we practice together, we are challenged to keep a certain pace, try new poses, and honor our boundaries all...
Udana vayu, also known as “ascending air,” is the prana vayu that directs prana from the lower chakras to the upper chakras. This upward-moving energy carries the awakened kundalini—our dormant spiritual energy—through the chakras as it ascends, facilitating a deeper connection to higher consciousness. Udana vayu is primarily located between the heart and the head, where it governs our ability to express ourselves and communicate clearly.
Sometimes yoga practice doesn’t give us that awesome feeling we are accustomed to. Sometimes it’s a real struggle. Some days, just getting to the mat can seem like a marathon itself. Other days, we expect our practice to deliver the bliss, yet we muster through the...
Vyana vayu, often called “omnipresent air,” is the prana vayu that integrates and coordinates the other four vayus—prana, apana, samana, and udana. Unlike the other vayus, which are associated with specific areas of the body, vyana vayu is present throughout the entire body and even extends outward, influencing the energy field or aura surrounding us. Vyana vayu is the glue that holds the other energies together.
Samana vayu, often called “balancing air,” is the prana vayu that sits at the intersection of prana (the inward/upward-moving energy) and apana (the outward/downward-moving energy). This central force unites the two energies, creating balance in both body and mind. Located at the navel, samana vayu governs agni, the digestive fire, which is the fire of purification. When prana and apana unite within samana, agni burns optimally, supporting the body’s ability to assimilate and process what it receives.