How to balance kapha in your yoga practice

I know someone who his colleagues and friends often describe as “a rock.” Everybody knows that he is reliable, consistent, and solid in every sense. But that solidity comes at a price. It can manifest as lethargy, procrastination, dullness, and depression. He must do some form of exercise every day of his life; otherwise, he “feels like a slug,” begins to oversleep and overeat, and becomes sluggish and listless.

Two main qualities that define kapha are cohesion and density. It is the watery or cohesive force that holds solid things together, much like mixing water with flour enables you to make dough. If you get your proportions wrong while mixing the dough, you can make it too watery or too dense, either of which will prevent your dough from rising and make it harder to use for baking. It works similarly with kapha, which needs to have a proper balance between its water and earth components. Excess moisture can lead to bloating, edema, and excessive tissue growth; too much density can lead to weight gain, lethargy, procrastination, excessive attachment to people and things, and so on. That is why managing kapha energy usually includes some form of:

• Heating the body to counteract the dampness
• Actively moving the body to counteract stagnation

Folks with high levels of kapha might need to avoid “boot camp” style activities that usually crank up the intensity from the start. Doing movement and activities well above the student’s physical capacity are discouraging for kapha types and can strain their cardiovascular system. Instead, focus on building the intensity gradually, over time.

Here are some general guidelines for yoga practice to keep kapha in balance:

• Focus on building exercise consistency: Try to arrange your day in a way that requires you to be active in short intervals throughout.
• Choose whole-body rather than partial-body activities: For example, you can start with a stationary bike but transition to activities that move the entire body.
• Challenge yourself: Work up a sweat, but be sure not to strain your heart.
• Reframe your mental attitude: Avoid comparing yourself to “skinny yogis”; that type of physical structure is undesirable and unattainable to most kapha types.
• Keep yourself mentally engaged: Choose physical activities that you find fun and enjoyable.
• Find your tribe: Find an exercise buddy who would encourage you and hold you accountable. Choose exercise/yoga classes and activities that help you feel like part of a community.

ASANA SUGGESTIONS

• Begin your practice by matching your current energetic and physical state and then gradually increase the intensity.
• Keep your asana practice active and physically challenging but appropriate to your current physical state so that you walk away with a sense of accomplishment rather than discouragement. Focus on developing the balance between stability and flexibility throughout the body.
• Choose practices that are heating and stimulating, like vinyasa practices. Be sure to move with your breath; do not rush yourself. Do not force yourself into more challenging poses.
• Try core strengthening poses and practices that keep you structurally stable and improve your metabolism and digestive capacity.
• Choose active standing poses with a focus on chest opening and balance development. Do fewer static poses close to the ground (supine, seated).

DESIRED OUTCOME OF ASANA PRACTICE

An ideal kapha balancing practice would make the practitioner feel invigorated, warm, and light, with improved circulation and a sense of spaciousness in the chest and lungs. It would help the mind and senses feel sharp and clear, and emotional heaviness released.

PRANAYAMA RECOMMENDATIONS

See Also

Is it better to be flexible or stable?

• Energy stimulation: Right nostril breathing, focus on inhalation and retention of breath
• Heating and clearing: Humming, kapalbhati, bhastrika (if not too congested)
• Head clearing: Prana/Udana vayu work with a focus on the “third eye” center
• Balancing: Alternate nostril breathing for a balancing effect

MEDITATION SUGGESTIONS
Kapha-focused meditation needs to help release emotional attachments and counteract mental stagnation and lethargy. Group meditation might feel more supportive and encouraging.

• Practice hooking your attention to a focusing device of your choice (breath, physical sensation, hand position, etc.) When you find yourself drifting off into imagination or daydreaming, bring your attention back to your focal point.
• Combine meditation with activity (movement, hand gestures, humming) to stay awake and present.
• Choose imagery that increases fire and air elements: bright, warm sun, wind moving through the trees, the expanse of clear blue sky, a wide-open field with colorful flowers. Use gold, blue, and orange colors.
• Try mantras and mudras that release possessiveness, help let go of attachments, and cultivate feelings of love and compassion toward all creatures.

References

1. Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness by A.G. Mohan and Indra Mohan (affiliate link)

2. Yoga and Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization by David Frawley (affiliate link)

3. The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression Through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom by H. Emmons, M.D. (affiliate link)

Knowing your constitutional predispositions toward specific imbalances helps you avoid things that might aggravate the imbalance and correct it once it manifests.

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