Enjoy Better Health and Longevity With Ayurveda

Like yoga that combines physical, dietary, and lifestyle factors to maximize the health and mental benefits, Ayurveda also offers its own approach involving the exercise component. This is what makes it more comprehensive as an exercise tool since focus is not isolated on the physical body. The more you can learn about following the Ayurvedic approach to exercise, the better able you are in customizing your exercise approach based on your needs and constitution.

General Ayurvedic Guidelines for Exercise

The most important exercise guideline taught in Ayurveda is to recognize your limitations and avoid going beyond that. If you do and start to develop discomfort, it tends to be counterproductive. To make it clear, exercising to the point wherein you feel overly exhausted and sore promotes the release of free radicals in the body. These free radicals or toxins are responsible for premature aging and the acquisition of certain diseases.

Another crucial reason why excessive workout must be avoided is the fact that it will requre you to take some days off to rest. It makes your body more prone to wear and tear when you overexert yourself. It also interferes with the body's natural rate of metabolism, which can be dangerous to your health in the long run.

You must exercise only to a point wherein you can breathe through your nose in a normal pattern. If you feel like you are starting to get outside of your comfort zone, slow down your pace to allow your body to recuperate. If you learn how to pace yourself properly, you would be better able to stick with this exercise routine and avoid injuries.

Finally, early morning exercise is recommended by ancient Ayurvedic texts. This will help boost your energy level during the day and produce better quality of sleep at night.

Customizing Exercises According To Type of Dosha

For each of the three doshas, it consist of various qualities and personalities. Thus you need to learn your own dosha and try to adjust your exercise approach according to it. For your own guidance, read below:

• Vata Dosha: People of this dosha type are quickly burst with high intensity. Therefore, you must balance it by incorporating slow movements to your exercise to avoid getting tired too quickly. It must be able to allow your mind and body to relax and settle down. Ideal exercises include tai chi, slow dancing, yoga, low impact aerobics, walking, and sports such as badminton and swimming.
• Pitta Dosha: Peope of this dosha type are naturally competitive and characterized by personalities of speed and strength. In order to balance this fire element in Pitta dosha, you must engage in exercises that enable your body to cool off. Ideal exercise activities for you would be swimming, surfing, rowing, water-skiing, tennis, and jogging in shaded areas.

Balancing Your Kapha

The third type of dosha is Kapha, wherein an individual's personality is characterized by endurance and strength. Kapha individuals are more likely to seek intense and stimulating activities. To balance this type of dosha, you need to perform any of the following exercise activities:

• distance walking.
• basketball.
• running.
• aerobics.
• cycling.
• ice skating.
• football.
• racquetball.

Physical Benefits of Ayurvedic Exercise

Exercising using the Ayurveda approach offer an extensive range of benefits to your physical body. Some of the notable benefits include the following:

• boost in blood circulation.
• increased physical strength and vitality.
• increased body coordination and flexibility.
• improved posture.
• muscle toning.
• balanced appetite, increased metabolism, and healthier digestive system function.
• flushing out of body toxins.
• more precise breathing to positively facilitate in the flow of prana inside your body.
• an overall light feeling.

Mental and Psychological Benefits of Ayurvedic Exercise

The physical benefits of Ayurveda is only at the most external surface, while the more profound benefits are to be experienced in your heart, mind and spirit. These benefits are as follows:

• increased mental agility.
• boost in mental strength.
• improved concentration ability.
• boost in self esteem and confidence.
• better body image.
• freedom of mind and spirit.
• better stress management ability.
• emotional equilibrium.

Your ability to experience physical and mental benefits through exercise with an Ayurveda approach is one way for you to attain holistic health benefits. Hence, it is important to carefully observe the exercise guidelines above to ensure that you can optimize benefits.