Saturday, February 04, 2006

Yoga for PITTAs


Pittas are generally over-heated, so yoga postures that cool you down and calm the mind are best for you. Because of your natural athleticism, you can handle the more challenging poses. These poses will also help headache, inflamed bowels, and hypertension.

All postures should be performed while doing deep, quiet breathing.

~ Shoulder Stand
~ Knee-to-Ear
~ Knee-to-Chest
~ Fish
~ Locust
~ Cobra
~ Bow and Half Bow
~ Corpse
~ Hidden Lotus
~ Boat
~ Sheetali

8 comments:

Michael Cho said...

These are great! Being a Pita, I can already see how these will help my back and shoulders!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I was looking for some Pitta posses and now I got it. it feels really good when you practice it...

Claudia Davila (Fran) said...

That's great, lorirey! I'm so glad to hear that it's working out for you. And m cho I hope you stretch out those shoulders.

Stay cool,
: ) ~Fran

jm said...

Hi,

What are hidden lotus and sheetali? I practice Hatha & vinyasa, but these poses are new to me.... thanks!

Claudia Davila (Fran) said...

Hi Jm,

Hidden Lotus is the lotus pose but simplified to only one foot tucked up, as seen on this web page. Here is a great web page describing Sheetali.

Hope this helps! :-)
~Fran

Saroja said...

This is such a great new way of looking at my yoga practice. I do get kind of cranky when I start getting hot and slipping all over my mat although I do like the feeling after the yoga class. That high feeling is beign dehydrated so I guess that is not too great. Thanks for these poses. I am definitely going to try to integrate more of these into my practice.

Melissa Grillo said...

Hello Fran,

I’ve been giving the very generous gift of yoga teacher training by a lovely studio in LA. It starts in August and will be scorching hot here. I HATE the heat. I think that’s the Pitta part of me and the early induced menopause hot flashes from breast cancer treatment. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for my dosha of PITTA-KAPHA of what kind of foods/drinks are the most cooling? I’m also carrying about 80 extra pounds which training will help shrink me :)
Appreciate any feedback you can provide! Kind Wishes, Melissa

Claudia said...

Hello Melissa!

I too am Pitta-Kapha and it's a hell of a combo considering that what cools a Pitta tends to bloat a Kapha!

I wonder what needs balancing most: your Pitta heat or your Kapha weight? Considering your teacher training which as you said will help the weight issue (what a bonus!), I would think that focusing on cooling the Pitta would be best. Maybe these articles will help:

http://franlife.blogspot.ca/2006/09/pitta-liver-anger-and-weight-issues.html

http://franlife.blogspot.ca/2006/01/how-to-eat-in-ayurvedic-way.html

My original link to Pitta foods is not working so try googling "pitta pacifying foods" or finding a book on Ayurveda -- books on Ayurveda are full of amazing information!

It sounds like you are on an amazing journey. I hope this helps you, and may you ride the heat wave and emerge calm and cool.