The Importance
of Movement

How to make exercise easy: Working with your dosha

Intimidating for some, a habitual challenge for others, master the individual art of movement by letting your dosha be the guide.

Movement is the magical elixir of wellness. This we know. While we are all aware of the virtues of exercise, both physical and mental, it can often be one of the last things to gain permanence in our daily routines.

The simple notion that keeping active will reduce our risk of chronic health conditions, make us physically stronger, mentally more robust and even heighten our sensuality usually isn’t enough to motivate us, but how is this so? The answer, we believe, lies within Ayurveda.

The Ayurvedic answer to adopting a movement practice

For many of us, a negative connection to the sports we were forced into as children have had a lasting impact throughout life and, with this, an Ayurvedic perspective can be helpful.

Feeling like you simply don’t enjoy exercise? The short Ayurvedic answer is to avoid forcing yourself into a particular sport. Instead, try one that suits your predominant dosha. Something that complements your energy, personality and physique – the rest will come naturally.

Found a sport you enjoy, but sporadic about your practice? Learn how to make subtle adjustments to your exercise during times of imbalance, and soothe yourself back into a state of harmony.

The Vata approach

Vatas love to move. Restless twiddling, tapping and fidgeting are a daily habit, yet building a regular exercise practice presents an entirely new challenge.

Light, swift and fast-paced, Vatas thrive on short bursts of energy. As a Vata, endurance isn’t where your strength lies, so why not work with this, rather than against it? Allow yourself the freedom to relinquish the long-distance runs and bench-press gym sessions, instead opting for something more energetic.

Movement in balance

Track sports. Running, sprinting, hurdling, jumping – anything that requires explosive bursts of energy is tailor-made for Vata. Squash, badminton and table tennis, too.

Ballet or gymnastics. Gymnastic forms of yoga also suit graceful, poised and agile Vata perfectly.

Trampolining. A movement form that has the bonus benefit of helping to stimulate the lymphatic system, boosting immune health.

Movement out of balance

For Vatas, an imbalanced dosha refers means feelings of nervousness, anxiety or tension. The key to restoring equilibrium in these times is to warm your body, which is naturally coldness-prone, and soothe your restless mind with gentle, calming movement and massage-based skin care.

Gentle jogging. Resisting the urge to pick up the pace, move mindfully, breathe deeply and become aware of your movement and surroundings.

Yin yoga. A slow, restorative yoga practice will soothe your mind and body.

Slow-paced cycling. A leisurely bike ride can work wonders for calm.

Dance. Rhythmic and gentle circling movements are relaxing for Vata.

The Pitta approach

Natural sportspeople with an enviable combination of strength, speed and stamina, Pittas are built for movement. Natural born leaders, with Pitta comes a fierce competitive streak that can hinder their enjoyment of exercise when winning isn’t the outcome.

The secret is to find balance between forms of exercise that keep you engaged, but don’t always mean winning. You might not have the patience for long-distance running or the precision for tai-chi, but your strong-mindedness means you thrive on a challenge, team or solo.

Movement in balance

Competitive sports. Try tennis or squash, with their explosive energy and need for power, or team sports like rugby or football as a captain or in a prominent position.

The gym. A cross-training programme is perfect – it will keep you energised.

Martial arts. Kickboxing, karate, MMA, kung fu, taekwondo or judo.

Rock climbing and bouldering. The perfect match for Pitta’s strength and agility, alongside adventure sports like horse riding, kayaking and surfing.

Movement out of balance

When you’re feeling overheated, irritable or angry, that Pitta fire needs to be tempered. At these times of imbalance, you’ll benefit from non-competitive activities, as hard as it may seem.

Time in nature. When feeling off-colour, a dose of green is your best friend. Forest bathing, the Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku, invites you to walk slowly, breathe slowly and be mindful.

Wild swimming or snow sports. The combination of nature and cool temperatures will soothe Pitta heat.

Mindful yoga. Take your yoga practice down a notch with more mindful Hatha practices, holding the asanas for longer and focusing on breathwork {pranayama}.

The Kapha approach

For Kapha, forming an exercise habit can take time and effort. Vital for conquering the sluggishness and apathy associated with this dosha, movement may not come naturally, but Kaphas are blessed with the powerful frame to excel at athletics and endurance.

Rest assured, harmony can be found in exercise, but embracing a practice that plays to your strengths is key. Start small, tagging dashes of movement onto existing wellbeing habits, using mealtimes, daily walks and skin care rituals as signals to motivate exercise.

Movement in balance

Weight training, boxing or wrestling. You can build muscle easily and have the capacity for heavy lifting. Having a PT on side could aid your motivation and consistency if you really want to thrive in this area.

Team sports. You enjoy the community feel of being part of a tribe. Your power and endurance will shine in a power position within a rugby, hockey or volleyball team.

Swimming. The longer the lengths, the better for Kapha.

Cycling. Particularly cross-country and other related sports, like skiing.

Yoga. Slow, light stretches are perfect for Kapha, so most forms of yoga will suit you.

Movement out of balance

When imbalanced, Kapha doshas can be prone to feeling sluggish, low or apathetic. On these occasions, think about movement forms that focus on speeding up and enlivening your energy.

Running. If you don’t already run, start to build a running habit for a fast and instant burst of energy whenever you need it.

HIIT or aerobics. Instead of the gym or lifting weights, join a class for the sociable, fun and mood-lifting element.

Fast-paced yoga. To perk up your energy in times of need, up the ante on your yoga practice with a flow class, or move through some Sun Salutations.