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Saturday, November 15th, 2008 - 12:00 am EST

Ayurvedic Body Types, Yoga and the Patterns

Our colleague, Norma Nielsen, just sent me a note regarding a FEBI program she is looking at for India.  I was reminded of questions I have heard concerning the connection between the patterns and deep elements of the Indian culture. Here's an interesting link you might want to look at: http://store.chopra.com/dosha-survey.asp?gclid=COipr9Kz95YCFQquGgodnCNSYg.  It's from Deepak Chopra - a quick little quiz for discovering one's Ayurvedic body type in terms of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  The map to the patterns is not 100%, as many things are mixed together in these body types.  You might take their quiz and discover your own connections.  What I noticed was Vata is mostly Visionary and Organizer (with some Collaborator in the enthusiasm).  Pitta has lots of Driver energy, with others in the background.  And Kapha brings Collaborator energy to the fore.  See where you come out.

In terms of yoga, my dear friend Abhilash Pandya, shared these insights with me around how the different patterns relate to styles of yoga.

  • Driver - The Doer, direct and in-your-face. Making things happen. This kind of person would probably be drawn to Raj Yoga. The doing itself. Raj Yoga – good for the skeptic.

  • Organizer - The Thinker, learns through words and questions. This most closely corresponds to the path of Jhana Yoga.

  • Collaborator - Playful and interactive; sees things in relationship to other things. Always weighing in human, practical terms. The communion aspect of Bhakti Yoga and its emphasis on seeing in relation to what is not would have appeal to this kind of person. Also Karma Yoga here, with practical mindfulness in all things.

  • Visionary - Goes with the Flow, learns by experience, as life flows through. Fits the path of Karma Yoga. Also Bhakti Yoga for the devotional essence seeking person.

With the practice of yoga so much on the rise, good to know that you can help people find the type of yoga and way of practicing it that will do them the most good.

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