Practice for the Season of Yoga

As I write this, spring in full swing. Flowers are blooming, the previously frozen water flow and the temperature has already begun his ascent to the north. Despite these external changes, many students of yoga to stay in the same practice all year round, whether it's hot yoga Iyengar alignment-based practice, or vinyasa flow, paying no attention to the time of the year.

I was in the same way until a few years ago, when I came across an interesting article that suggested that special attention to each season, based on Ayurvedic principles.

Ayurveda believes in the winter due to the so-called kapha dosha and the water element, which we get in at the moment. And in the summer due to pitta dosha and fire. Spring, where we are now considered to be a transition period, and is not associated with any of the three doshas (the third dosha is vata and is associated with the wind, and a well-known during the fall and early winter).

Dosh refer to physical and mental constitution. Each person has a dominant dosha, or a mixture of two (or three equal balance tridoshic, it is also possible).

In winter, Kapha dosha is dominant for all, and we usually come out of winter with a small surplus, which could lead to an imbalance or even disease. When it is in balance, Kapha dosha maintains a healthy growth of muscles and bones, gives the impression that the sound, makes our thinking and move more smoothly, and we have better stamina, patience and follow through a number of other desirable qualities.

When out of balance, however, the cold, damp and heavy nature of Kapha can lead to an increase in mucus, weight gain, allergies, asthma, respiratory, digestive, and lethargy, and it's only a few things. It seeks to settle in the lungs and stomach, and, secondly, in the joints, connective tissue, heart and brain! Therefore, the use of cleaning tools of yoga can help for a healthy transition into better balance.

Since winter is usually less active time, your spring yoga you need to add more traffic. Slow Vinyasa is one way to ensure this. Communications of motion and breathing in a more consistent and regular basis also helps stimulate the body, respectively. Slower and more breath / exhalation models may be useful. Using ujjayi wind that gently heating during exercise can also help with the removal of excess kapha. Other methods of pranayama are useful in the spring Kapalabhati, Nadi Shodhana, Bhastrika Bhedana and Surya.

There are some asanas are postures to reduce Kapha, especially those which stimulate the processes of elimination. Inversion, as they say, to balance kapha dosha, so on the shoulders and stand on your head, if your repertoire may be included in domestic practice. In order to stimulate the digestive fire, wind, stomach (samana vayu), and to increase flexibility and reduce body fat, a list item can be added to the practice: sitting spinal twists like Ardha Matsyendrasana, Navasana, Simhasana, bridge, Paschimottanasana, Matsyasana and Camel pose. In connection with his alleged influence on the glandular system, sitting Siddhasana posture, as well as on the shoulder and headstand is considered beneficial to the Ayurvedic point of view.

There are, of course, more advanced practice, you can add in domestic practice, as you get more comfortable with those suggested here. It may be wise and unique approaches to Savasana, and even yoga nidra. But the information you have here can help you get started now. If you want to learn more about yoga and ayurveda, consider the test, David Frawely Book of Yoga and Ayurveda.