balance your Kapha with movement
For my Kapha’s, this one is for you!
Your yoga practice should encompass space, stimulation, warmth, and buoyancy sequences to help balance your dosha.
The poses shown below are Kapha-pacifying poses that you can use in a flow or do them individually. I would suggest holding each pose for 2-5 minutes.
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II)
From Warrior I INHALE, EXHALE and stretch your arms straight out from your shoulders and your feet parallel to your mat.
Turn your right foot and knee to face the front of your mat.
Angle your left toes slightly in toward the upper left corner of your mat.
Bend your right knee at a 90-degree angle.
Note: Avoid the knee going over your toes.Press down the outer edge of your back foot.
Keep the crown of you head stacked over your pelvis and your shoulders over your hips.
Extend both arms towards the front and back of the mat as you bring your gaze towards the front.
With each INHALE, lengthen through your spine and EXHALE sink your hips lower towards your mat.
Repeat on the other side.
Vasisthasana (Plank pose)
From downward facing dog, come into plank.
Place your left palm underneath your nose.
INHALE, lift your right arm up towards the sky.
Keep your legs extended and stacked on top of one another.
Keep your head directly in line with your spine.
Note: both arms aligned to one another.Engage your abdominal muscles, drawing your naval inward.
EXHALE, lift your hips and knees off your mat.
Repeat on the other side.
Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
From Warrior II, INHALE and straighten your front leg.
EXHALE, press into your outer left heel. Reach your right hand to the floor, shin, or ankle and extend your left hand towards the sky.
Press into your inner right foot, as you turn your right thigh outward.
Press your left heel, as you turn your left thigh outward.
Reach your arms apart and you externally rotate your chest upwards.
Bring your gaze towards the sky.
Repeat on the other side.
Vrikshasana (Tree pose)
From Mountain pose, root your left foot onto your mat. Equally distribute your weight onto all four corners of your foot.
Lift your right leg and bring the sole of your left foot high onto your inner thigh, shin, or ankle. Note: Never on the knee.
Press your foot into your thigh and your thigh back into your foot with equal pressure. This will help keep your hips squared towards the front of your mat.
Focus on your gaze (Drishti) on a non-moving point to help with your balance.
Repeat on the other side.
Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine spinal twist)
Lie down on your back, bring your knees towards your chest.
INHALE extend your arms out like a “T”
EXHALE twist your legs to the right. Option: keep both legs tucked in or extend your left leg out.
Keep both shoulders on your mat and bring your gaze towards the left. Note: Keep both hips stacked on top of one another.
Repeat on the other side.
To help balance your Kapha dosha, I encourage you to practice in a warm area. Focus more on the subtlety of the pose and how it creates expansiveness in your body. Feel the energy and prana move through your body.
Find a few minutes in your busy schedule to practice these five poses. Challenge yourself!
Happy Moving!
Namaste!
Andrea xoxo
