Hello friends, 

Hope you are well! It’s been sometime since my last blog, hope this one finds you in good health and spirits. 

Thursday afternoons, I usually spend with my father. We always have some yoga banter, Dad’s usual rhetorical question“ How many were in your class today? ” This leads us to exchanging numbers and our positive praaphanllia of thoughts, telling each other, “That’s good, very good, better than last week, some newbies” leading us with our rapid fire of thoughts and opinions of anything we considered to be helpful to one another. 

The time together, I do cherish. Particularly, so with him soon turning 93, on the 10th of September! 

Just recently, he told me, that his classes at the Indian Community Centre had gravitated to the kitchen. Since the roof above the main hall had fallen through onto the stage, it had now been several weeks since repair works had commenced. Dad had been goaded by some of the ladies wanting the classes to recommence, he explained it was difficult with the roof repairs. One of them suggested we do it in the kitchen, dad thought we could give it a go! 

As he was telling me I was intrigued who were these ladies I asked, who would go to the lengths of contacting him and wanting to have the classes in the kitchen, if I’m honest not the most inviting places to do yoga. 

I’ll apologise to anyone that is offended but he bluntly said, “They are 6 fat ladies! ” Well I wasn’t quite sure whether to laugh, given his age and his standing in the community, my mind raced, give  him some slack and guided him to the use of more acceptable terminology, “Dad, don’t you mean they were on the larger side and not quite a small or medium build” of course this is all down to our interpretations. He agreed with me, saying “Not fat, but larger.” At this point, I laughed 😂

But as the years have passed with teaching, there are some body shapes that have a better affinity with Yoga asana. If I explain this a little further below: 

The sister science of yoga is Ayurveda, which introduces the concept of the dosha meaning body types, it states there are 3 body types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These body types have different characteristics but will overlap with each other by a certain ratio. But, it is quite possible to have a dominant dosha with its characteristics. There are several quizzes that you can find on the internet, and they will work out your dosha. See below 👇

Your dosha will give us an understanding of ourselves so that we can recognise when things are out of kilter and learn how to bring them back to balance. Intrinsically, Ayurveda teaches us how to keep the doshas in balance. 

Take the quiz here https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/body-type/Dosha-Quiz?ref=2114646

The 3 functional body types of doshas: 

1. Catabolic – Vata – individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. 
2. Metabolic – Pitta – individuals tend to burn or use energy. 
3. Anabolic – Vata- individuals tend to store energy as body mass. 

Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. 

Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. 

Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.

An animal analogy : 

• Vata = bumblebee – constantly searching and on the move
• Pitta = tiger – lounges and then ‘attacks’, quickly use a lot of energy; sharp and smart
• Kapha = elephant – slow-moving, affectionate in nature, patient

Along with acknowledging that we cannot be neatly divided into categories and that we all have certain elements of each dosha within us, it’s also interesting to note that our dosha may change throughout our lives. So, rather than over-focusing on which dosha we are, it’s helpful to instead consider where we are on the spectrum so that we can try and maintain a sense of equilibrium and balance. 

There are various ways to rebalance your dosha : 

1. Yoga Asana 
2. Foods 
3. Overall well-being is treated with opposites—cold is treated with heat, dry with wetness, lightness with heaviness, and so on.
4. Essential oils 
5. Massages