Article by Paige Lichens 9/27/2020 for Paper at MUIH
I studied and certified in the application of applying Ayurveda to a yoga practice. I learned this back in 2015 at Kripalu and my primary teacher was Dr John Douillard but I have learned from so many others for over 10 years. Dr Dilip Sakar was my first teacher back when I first heard the word Ayurveda in my 200-hour training in 2008. I studied from many resources that included “Yoga & Ayurveda” by David Frawley.
A Dosha is one of three substances or qualities that is believed to be present in a person. What I researched over time was that the poses weren’t specific to a particular Dosha, but the length, sequence and cueing would be specific to the balancing quality. The Dosha needing balance doesn’t have to be the primary one for the client. Also a Dosha is reflected in all living things; therefore time of day, season or an age may also be a way to assess and build a plan of care around balancing.
Ayurveda believes in 6 seasons even if we live in an area that doesn’t experience a large seasonal change:
Early Winter Nov 15- Jan 15: Kapha
Winter Jan 15-March 15: Vata
Spring March 15- May 15: Kapha
Summer May 15-July 15: Pitta
Early Fall - July 15 - Sept 15: Pitt
Fall Sept 15 - Nov 15: Vata
Ayurveda also believes in stages of life that are reflected by a Dosha:
Ages 0-25: Kapha
Ages 25-50: Pitta
Ages 50-75: Pitta/Vata
Ages 75+: Vata
Other aspects are the stages reflected by the time of day:
6am-10am: Kapha
10am to 2pm: Pitta
2pm to 6pm: Vata
6pm to 10pm: Kapha
10pm to 2am: Pitta
2am to 6am: Vata
For the plan of care described below it does not take into account any specific conditions a client may have and is only referring to designing a plan of care specifically to pacify or balance a Dosha.
Additionally Ayurveda suggests that there are the 20 Gunas; 10 pairs of opposite elements that are used to describe different substances. To develop balance opposite elements would be applied to develop a plan of care and will be discussed further below with each of the three Dosha types.
Vata:
Traits to notice will be that the person is physically active and busy. Often the person forgets to eat. When balanced the person is creative, spiritual and can think in abstracts. When out of balance they may experience weight loss, insomnia, brittle nails, dry skin and gas. Made up of elements of space and air.
If the plan of care is balancing or pacifying of Vata the practice will be focused on being grounded, slower and offer more time for silence.
Physically:
Start laying on the floor on the back and encourage the movement to be slower. With knees bent & feet on ground, start off with pelvic tilts and encourage them to notice things like natural breath, heart beating and the floor under them.
Poses on the back would include floating bridge, leg lifts and twists.
Could come up to seated movement of the arms and neck before coming onto the knees and hands for cat and cow pose or on knees in table-top instead.
Slow movement rocking and moving; sitting back to child pose and then back to table (moving slowly about 5 to 6 times).
Could move into a very slow flow of down-dog to plank to up-dog; can be done on the knees.
Standing poses such as tree with a verbal cue to feel the truck and ground.
Finish the practice with some seated positions such as forward fold, clam, deer pose.
Constructive rest pose (Savasana) back, sides or chest. Suggest a weighted blanket on the body; especially on the hips and abdomen. (I like half frog pose on the chest as a way to offer warmth and heaviness).
Breath:
Gentle Kapalbhati Kriya breath instruction that also incorporates gentle movement of the arms. Also alternate nostril breath.
Meditation:
Guidance to visualize themselves as an hour-glass and feel the sand drift down from the top to the bottom. Guiding them to observing different temperatures, shapes and forms. Also suggesting the use their imagination to see the energy moving downward.
Mudra:
According to “Mudras for healing transformation” on page 120 “Abhaya Varada Mudra” would be helpful. Hold the left hand slightly cupped below the naval and palm facing up. Hold the right hand slightly cupped at the level of the shoulder with the palm facing forward.
Kapha:
Personality traits are calm and rarely irritated. They may gain weight easily, even without overeating. When balanced, they are strong, trustworthy and caring. When out of balance, the will feel lethargic, avoid movement, and have congestion. Made up of elements of earth and water.
If the plan of care is balancing or pacifying Kapha the focus will be on lifting, building Tapas (heat) and raising up energy. The practice needs to involve movement that may be resisted; therefore encouragement will be needed and not overwhelming or depleting. Inspiring them to move more, offer shorter rests and final resting pose time. Less time for quiet and if music is used it may help boost the mood.
Physically:
Start off seated or go straight into to standing positions.
A sun salutation is good but done slowly and not rushed; offers a variety of standing, strength and movement poses.
Half moon, camel, plank and dolphin poses will create heat and lift energy
Seated folds, twists and then bridge with leg lift.
The movement would be the majority of time and the cooling down and resting pose would be shorter.
Constructive rest pose (Savasana) back, sides or chest. To offer more lift could be the use of a bolster at an angle to remain slightly lifted up.
Breath:
Bhastrika or alternate nostril with breath retention to warm the body.
Meditation:
A mantra/mudra; something that repeats and keeps the body moving. I like the mantra “sa-ta-na-ma” with thumb touching each finger one at a time (mudra). Although I often use this for anxiety or ‘rajasic’ states but I find it also helps with depressive or ‘tamasic’ states as well.
Mudra:
Already mentioned above but other alternatives from the “Mudras for healing transformation” on page124 suggests “Ratna Prabha Mudra”. Interlace all the fingers to the outside with the right thumb on-top. Extend the index and middle fingers straight forward joined along their length. Rest the writs onto the upper abdomen with fingers pointing forward.
Pitta:
Personality traits are quick and sharp; they may be ambitious and organized. They are regular with their meals. When balanced they present with intelligence, focus and works tirelessly. When out of balance they present feeling too hot, irritated, have ulcer or skin irritations. Made up of elements of fire and water.
If the plan of care is balancing or pacifying Pita the focus will be around the middle body (heart and hips). The practice needs to offer coolness and slower paced sequences; therefore holding in the pose longer is encouraged. It is helpful to be direct and specific; not too many descriptions or variations. Expect resistance to slowing down and offer a word like “challenge” instead of “let go”.
Physically:
Starting off seated pose and then do some arm, twists and neck movement.
Slower paced sun salutation that allows for longer standing positions with arms lifted around the side body; warrior 2 or triangle pose.
Inversions like down-dog and child are not held as long. (Avoiding blood to the head).
Child pose would be with a block for a Yin Style instead.
Yin positions like Swan, Twisted Swan, Cat Tail Twist, and other hip/shoulder poses that are held on floor longer to cool body down are the primary portion of the plan of care.
Restorative pose; legs inverted and could still do variations on legs for hips. Should be done for a longer time than a Kapha practice. Another alternative is to do a restorative fish pose.
Constructive rest pose (Savasana) may be a restorative pose instead of a corpse pose.
Breath:
Shitali breath or three part breath would help to cool and calm the body.
Meditation:
Visualization that is calm and cool such imagining the mountain, lake or ocean. Yoga Nidra would be useful with this as well.
Mudra:
According to “Mudras for healing transformation” on page 122 “Jalashaya Mudra” is good for balancing Pitta as the gesture is a lake. Interlace the fingers to the outside with the right thumb on top and extend the ring and little fingers straight forward joined along their length. Rest the hands below the naval against the abdomen.
References
LePage, J. & L., (2014), Mudras for healing transformation. Integrative Yoga Therapy.