According to Ayurveda, different people require very different yoga practices. Philosophically, both yoga and Ayurveda are rooted in Samkhya, one of six schools of classical Indian thought. According to Ayurveda, the universal life force manifests as three different energies, or doshas, known as vata, pitta, and Kapha. The three doshas fluctuate constantly. As they move out of balance, they affect particular areas of our bodies in characteristic ways.
When determining the kind of yoga practice that is right for you, the most important factor is your vikruti, or imbalance. Your vikruti is, in fact, the single most important determinant of your entire regime. Once you have corrected your imbalance, you can stay in good health by choosing a yoga practice that balances your constitution, or prakruti
đ§đťââď¸Yoga for Kapha types will be more vigorous and intense to strengthen and balance the heavy earth and moist water element. A Kapha person is more likely to choose a gentle practice and restorative or yin yoga classes;
đ§đźââď¸Pitta yoga or exercise should be of moderate-intensity to balance the warm and restless fire and water elements. A pitta person is often drawn to challenging practices to soothe its competitive mind.
đ§đžVata yoga practice will take place in a calm and humble environment. Attention will be given to grounding and focusing asanas that are warming. Vatas choose very often a dynamic and movement-oriented yoga practice and vigorous pranayama (breathing techniques).
đ¸A good yoga practitioner needs to know how to detoxify through the dietary, lifestyle, and purification practices. Without a foundation in ayurvedic knowledge, hatha yoga runs the risk of becoming just pure physical exercise. Yoga aims to cleanse the nadis, or channels, with different postures. But trying to do that without using the ayurvedic principles for removing ama (digestive impurities) is like hopping on one leg. That's why traditional yoga schools have always taught ayurvedic principles as well as yoga asanas, because the two are so interdependent.
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