What’s Your Workout Dosha?
Loving this post from Well+Good (apparently we’re not the only ones on a major ayurvedic kick). Please tells us in the comments 1) what your dosha is (if you know it) and 2) what kind of exercise you do. Let’s see who’s balancing and who may be increasing like with like! We’ll start.
Lots of things explain why you love insanely hot, slow Bikram sequences, while your best friend would rather be running the city streets on a 40-degree day.
But from an Ayurvedic perspective, the workout you’re most drawn to may be the one your body needs the least. (Bummer!)
“Like increases like,” says Ayurvedic expert Monica Bloom, author of the blog, Hey Monica B. “So, if you’re a fiery, competitive person (a Pitta constitution in Ayurveda), you’re going to want to literally race. But that will just add more fire. What you really need is to slow down, to create balance.”
And certain times of year can really set off your dosha. Fall, for example, is Vata season according to Ayurveda, so you may feel more scattered and need some grounding yoga sessions. (And put your iPhone down more often.)
So what types of workouts do you and your dosha need? (You can find out your dosha here.) These are Bloom’s workout recommendations for each dosha:
Monica Bloom, the Ayurvedic expert behind the blog, Hey Monica B.
1. VATA What you’ll want to do: Run, cardio What you should do: Barre, Pilates, restorative yoga, strength training
“Vata people are go, go, go,” says Bloom. So, stop. “They don’t eat a lot and don’t have great endurance, so what’s good for them is a routine that’s not too intense and is grounding.” The concentrated, precise movements of a focused barre class, as opposed to running laps, for instance. Yoga is great for Vatas’ characteristically tight muscles and creaky joints.
2. PITTA What you’ll want to do: Competitive sports, triathlons What you should do: Bike riding, running, swimming, yoga
Pitta people are fiery and competitive, and Bloom says if you’ve ever passed out from exercise, you’re probably one of them. (Most of us are way too lazy to take it that far). “Pittas should do something that’s cooling and that they can enjoy alongside their more competitive sports,” she says. “Riding a bike with the wind in their face or swimming without clocking your time are great options.” Important: Don’t. go. to. hot. yoga. (Spontaneous combustion may occur.)
I’m vata dominant, but I have some kapha too. The two types of exercise I do are yoga—the super slow, long posture kind which balances my gogogo vata—and my crazy piloxing dance class. While the latter miiiight aggravate my vata if I go overboard (it’s super high cardio), I think it’s good for my kapha.
The Dosha quiz says I’m a Pitta, with some Kapha tendencies. Looking at the workout descriptions above, though, I’m more of a Kapha. I enjoy doing weights and yoga, HATE cardio. I have had good luck doing yoga at home with DVDs, some vinyasa to get my heart rate going and the occasional kettlebell workout at home, and the even more occasional walk on the treadmill. I know I need to do more kettlebell and walking (especially walking), but yoga is what I enjoy most. And it’s definitely making me stronger!
For the last few months I’ve fallen into this routine of doing cardio 2-3x a week, strength training 2x a week, and yoga 1x a week. In the past I always stuck to just one type of exercise, but lately I’ve been loving how I feel doing all three of these… and wouldn’t you know, I just took the dosha quiz and I’m tri-doshic. hopefully this is the right balance and I can stick with it!
Vata-Pitta (even): Up to 10 miles of speed walking per day/hiking on the weekends, plus strength training daily (alternating muscle groups) and hatha vinyasa yoga daily. If I have to workout indoors, then it is high intensity running or inteval walking and running. I’m not too fond of the treadmill, but I do it.
Solid Vata. I am drawn to leisurely, tranquil exercise. Frankly things that don’t feel like exercise. I am very fond of taking long walks through peaceful places, and I love yoga; they are good for my racing mind. But, get me on a bike, and I am like a 9 year old boy racing around and trying to “pop a wheelie” and giggling the whole time.
This is really interesting. I’m a total Pitta, but I don’t desire being competitive physically (I think that has more to do with the fact I was raised with absolutely zero encouragement to do physical activity). What I do for exercise now is Iyengar style yoga (I don’t need to try hot yoga to know I would barf before the first series), walk/run, and bike. Seems like I’m balancing, according to ayurveda.
I’m vata-pitta, so it’s hard to say really. If anyone would care to comment on what to do for dual doshas, I would be interested.
I adapt my workout depending on the season and my level of energy. I alternate between different activities:
staples are lots of walking as this is my main means of transportation, and yoga (hot yoga in winter, regular yoga in summer). I will typically add cardio once or twice a week (running, climbing, hiking, cross-country skiing, swimming, etc) preferably outdoors unless it’s really unpleasant out there. As I get older I have come to realize that a mix of moderate activity makes me feel better and is more sustainable.
My workout dosha is Fatazma. I rarely move unless it is from the car to the door or vice versa.
@JJ :)