Last but certainly never least, this is the fifth and final installment of the series What’s Your Dosha? So all this talk about dosha and ayurveda is just that…talk. Now ‘tis the season to act! First, you need to discover your own personal doshic constitution, so take the doshic quiz to find out.  Once you know what your dominant dosha or doshas are (unless you are the fortunate few who are tri-doshic) you can determine the nature of your constitutional imbalance.

Remember the eight-limbed path, it’s gonna come in handy here. The two most accessible tools are asana and pranayama. The way a yogi practices directly affects their dosha. The postures, the duration of holding those postures and breath techniques are key to practicing the appropriate asana for your constitutional type. Here are some tips for practicing for your type:

Some key principals for the vata when practicing asana:

• Keep your energy firm and consistent. The key is sustainability for the vata.
• Keep the body calm and centered. Practice asana slowly and gently without any sudden or forceful movements. Avoid abrupt movements.
• Keep the breath strong, even and consistent emphasizing inhalations.
• Use the breath as a fixation point for the keeping the mind focused and grounded in the present moment.

• Keep your energy cool, open and receptive. Don’t push or overexert.
• Keep the body cool during your practice. Practice asana in a surrendering manner to release tension and heat. Notice where you hold your body unnecessarily.
• Keep the breath cool and diffused. Exhale through the mouth to fully release heat and impurities.
• Keep the mind receptive, detached yet aware…not critical.

• Prepare the body adequately to practice asana. Warm up well and practice asana with effort, speed and determination to generate heat. The opposite of pitta. Muster enthusiasm during your practice.

• Keep the body light and moving…keep the energy flowing.
• Keep the breath moving upward taking deep and even rapid breaths if necessary to keep the energy up.
• Keep the mind committed, awake and focused.

Using these tips you can take one pose, like adho mukha svanasana and work it very differently depending on your dosha. Vatas would focus their attention on holding the pose a little longer (10-20 breaths) and really grounding through the hands and feet and cultivate a calm steady breath pattern. The pitta would practice the pose with a sense of surrender allowing the heels to stretch towards the mat as opposed to forcing them down. Scanning the body for hidden areas of gripping or tension, the pitta would use the breath to smooth out any kinks or tense areas. Lastly, the kapha would hold this pose longer than the pitta and create a more rapid breathing pattern. Kaphas would work more aggressively here to keep the muscles hugging around the bones to stabilize the pose.

Check out David Frawley's book Yoga for Your Type An Ayurvedic Approach to Your Asana Practice.