Tantric Advaita


The suitability of particular asanas according to your body type (dosha)

Asanas and Doshas

 

Not all asanas are healthy for everybody,
such as this Shivs Asana by Ganga Puri
Depending on your body type, some asanas are more suitable and others are less suitable. In general, following are some recommendations for the 3 main body types :

Vata dosha dominated people : These people should start their asana practice slowly and never do any exhausting or very heating practice. They can sweat a little, but not too much. They should take little sips of water in between and take a moderate amount of water before and after practice. They should be especially careful to avoid injury and must be properly warmed up and stretched before trying anything difficult. Postures that work on the spine and the belly are especially important. The asana practice should involved pranayama and some meditation so that they get out of their heads and into their body, which is relatively difficult for them.

Pitta dosha dominated people : These people should avoid any practice which is heating them up a lot and should take water before, after and during the practice in fair amounts, though of course not as much that it disturbs the practice. Putting a little water on the top of the head before starting is very advisable. Since by nature they tend to be overly ambitious, they should avoid practicing too fast and too energetically. Especially they should not try any asana which they have not been properly taught. Emphasis should be on balancing solar and lunar currents and in relaxing the liver area and the diaphragm.

Kappha dosha dominated people : Kappha people should do asana in a way that requires a lot of effort and is making them sweat very strongly. In case of overweight, the practice should however start slowly with sitting asanas and heating pranayamas until they are warmed up. However, kappha people should not be allowed too much lying down and resting during the practice. They should put in a real effort and they should avoid drinking much. Emphasis should be on asanas that open up the chest area and promote digestion.

All asanas can be performed by all doshas or body types. But to decide which asanas to do on a regular basis it is best to keep your dominant dosha in mind (+ means advisable for the named body type, - means less advisable for the named body type, neither + or - means relatively neutral) :

 
Dosha

 

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

Sitting yoga postures

Padm-asana

++

+

+

Vajr-asana

++

+

+

Simh-asana

+

-

++

Vir-asana

+

 

+

Standing yoga postures

Vriksh-asana

++

++

 

Trikon-asana

+

++

 

Ardha Chandr-asana

 

+

++

Virabhadr-asana

 

 

+

Inverted yoga postures

Sirsh-asana

+

-

+

Vipareetakarani-asana

+

 

 

Sarvang-asana

 

+

+

Adho Mukha Vrks-asana

 

 

++

Forward bows

Janu Sirs-asana

++

 

-

Pashimottan-asana

++

+

 

Adho Mukha Svasana

 

 

+

Urdha Mukha Svasana

 

 

+

Backward bows

Bhujanga-asana

++

+

 

Shalabh-asana

++

 

+

Navasana

 

+

 

Matsy-asana

 

+

 

Dhanur-asana

 

+

+

Hal-asana

 

 

+

Ushtr-asana

 

 

+

Twists

Bharadvajasana

+

 

 

Padasana

+

 

 

Ardha Matsyendr-asana

 

+

 

Horizontal yoga postures

Balasana

+

+

 

Parivrttta Janusir-asana

+

 

 

Kurmasana

+

++

 

Nav-asana

+

 

 

Yoga Mudra

+

+

 

Shav-asana

++

++

 

Surya Namaskar

+

 

++

Chandra Namaskar

 

++

 

Asana in Ashtanga Yoga



About


Leela is the ancient vedic name for the theater of life. Life in all its forms is an illusion behind which we can find the ultimate truth of pure Being. Yet life is also a divine theater, a spiritual game played by us, the actors. Yoga allows us to hold on to the bliss of truth while playing the game. And also this yoga is a game, which we can only take seriously if we do not take ourselves and this game too seriously. That is the meaning of Leela Yoga, nothing more, nothing less. So, Leela Yoga is a vision on yoga and also a name for a simple organisation that allows me to bring this vision into practice... more about Leela Yoga & Peter Marchand

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Quotes


As the destination is the same for all, it is easy to make the error of assuming that the path must be just as universal.

The attachment that happens in the pursuit of happiness is the main source of unhappiness.

Don't think of going somewhere, because this somewhere will come along with you wherever you go, as you are already there.

Yoga requires unity between enjoyment and suffering, between bhoga and yoga, even between attachment and detachment.

How can anyone be "good" without a choice between good and bad?

While the mind creates the illusion of the universe through the senses, the intellect creates the illusion of understanding it.

When our day has been entirely ego-centered, then our meditation will probably have similar poor quality.

When the focus on the self is held strongly enough, the flow of kundalini energy happens on its own, naturally.

Tiptoe inside, don't make a sound, don't scare away that which cannot be found.

Enlightenment is nothing more or less than the final level of the game of life.