Ayurvedic Theory by Matthew Remski in Seven Bullet Points

1.  We consist, roughly, of two parts: a feeling part, and a conscious part.

2.  The feeling part is a unique combination of elemental qualities and movement patterns we may call "constitution". It is the basis of the conscious part.

3.  Constitution can harmonize or clash with its natural and social environment, whether by conscious choice or by circumstance.

4.  Not paying attention to sensual feedback, internal rhythms and environmental changes prematurely weakens first vitality, and then immunity.

5.  As immunity weakens, the natural strengths of structure (kapha), metabolism (pitta), and coordination (vata) express their shadows: congestion (k), inflammation (p), and disorganization (v).

6.  Good digestion is the root of feeling health and conscious health.

7.  Pleasure, transparency, and resilience are its flowers.

How I teach Ayurveda - A post by Matthew Remski

The first thing to look at is healing the "somatic gap".  This is the way in which the flesh has become absent or silent to us, either because we stopped listening, or because we were told in a clinic or hospital that it wasn't a reliable source of data.  If we listen closely, we can hear our flesh writing the poetry of experience.

Yoga for your Ayurvedic Dosha : Vata, Pitta, Kapha

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Ayurvedic doshas represent your body + emotional constitution.  It is one method of understanding body type and can help identify the best diet/activity for optimal health.  Each person has all three doshas including vata, kapha and pitta. These doshas represent the five elements : air, ether, water, fire and earth.  When one element is out of balance, it often causes a disruption in the bodies homeostasis.  Specific type of yoga sequences can be curated for each dosha to help bring balance.

Take this Dosha Quiz to learn more about your type (It is best to consult an Ayurvedic specialist for complete accuracy and understanding). If you find one dosha is more dominant than the other, consider a specific type of yoga practice to help bring balance.

Elements of a Yoga Practice that bring balance to Vata, Pitta, Kapha:

Vata (air/ether) - grounding, warm, restorative, slow moving, drishti (focus with gaze), aromatherapy and soothing music

Pitta (fire/water) - cooling practice, holding poses for longer counts, slower sun salutations, forward folds, lunar salutation

Kapha (earth/water) - heat building poses that include more movement, focus on spaciousness of pose, vinyasa flow

References: Textbook of Ayurveda by : Vasant Lad