Andrea's Kapha Flow

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the compliment to yoga seen with in the Indian culture. The practitioner practices yoga as a way to

cleanse the body and mind of distractions, while Ayurveda uses foods to cleanse the body of uwanted

toxins; an internal medicine.

I am in a novice when it comes to understanding the dynamics of Ayurveda, so much of what I

write here is take from the text, The Book of Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Health and Longevity

by Judith H. Morrison, Morrison states that, "in Ayurveda everything is composed of the five dense

elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements are everywhere and always together in all

things. They are constantly changing and interacting." The author goes on to write that, "these elements

can be described in a more simplified form as three energies or doshas. Each dosha is a combination of two

elements and are responsible for all physiological and psychological processes in the body and mind." The Sanskrit

name for these three energies are: vata, pitta, and kapha

Vata: combination of air and ether elements, air primary. Colon is the seat of Vata

Pitta: fire element, with water as secondary. Stomach and Small Intestines are the seat of Pitta. 

Kapha: water and earth, water primary. The Stomach and Lungs are the seat of Kapha. 

In short, "full health and well-being are only possible when the doshas/energies work harmoniously." 

*This is a very brief introduction to Ayurveda and its role in our lives.

Yoga teachers not only teach, they also have their own personal practice. Andrea Russell is a yoga teacher

who has taught me so much about proper alignment when practicing, how to use the breath as tool, and the importance

of our diet in determining our health. Today in class the focus was on Spring and its correlation with the Ayurvedic doshas.

In Spring the Kapha dosha is dominant. Spring rains water the earth and create mud. It is cold and moist

as a result of the wetness and winter's slow departure. As a result we may feel cold; we feel lethargic;

and our movements are slow. We need to re-balance our bodies by creating warmth in our bodies by twisting and

bringing movement into our practices. When I practice with Andrea my journal is close by so that I can write

down particular asanas or movements or ideas that I could incorporate into the sequences I share with my

students. Thanks, Andrea for sharing your passion with all of us.

ANDREA’S KAPHA FLOW

Spring Season

Kapha Qualities: water & earth=mud, heavy-sticky-cold-moist.

Humans: lethargic, cold, heavy, slow.

RE: opposites balance: create inner warmth, twisting postures(agni)

OPENING (10)

Seated or Lying Meditation

BACK (5)

Dead Bug: bent knee/bent arm: raise & lower

Bent knee/bent arm: opposite leg & arm

Straight legs/straight arms: out to side & in (no wobble)

TABLETOP(5)

Leg up

Leg up & arm up

D.D.

SUN SALUTATIONS(10)

Cobra

Finger-tip cobra

Finger-tip outside mat cobra

STANDING (10)

Chair/squat

Chair to Crescent straight leg

Crescent Lunge

Warrior II

Side Angle/Extended Side Angle

Wide Legged (1. Stretch (2. Twist

D.D.

MAT (5)

90/90 Lunge: 1. Hands out/ one hand up 2. Twist

BELLY (5)

Locust (3 fingers)

D.D.

SEATED (5)

On Block: Twist (2x’s)

Baddha Konasana

On Block: Agni Mudra/Meditation

SAVASANA (5)

Resources:

Morrison, Judith H., The Book of Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Health and Longevity, Gaia Books

Limited, 1995.

Andrea Russell Teacher, Bliss Flow Yoga Studio, Madison, WI