When you know your Ayurvedic constitution you can make important choices regarding your speed and style of practice of yoga exercises and yoga breathing. While Yoga Exercises means a lot more than physical movement, this focus is on the physical aspect of yoga. The principles given here can be applied both while in the yoga pose, and in day to day living to achieve comfort in the body and a quiet mind.

Let's take 3 key qualities of your body mind according to Ayurveda: strength of body, temperature of body, and stability of mind, and apply these to a yoga pose, the basic standing pose, Tadasana.

Strong Body

If you have thin bones, your constitution might be weaker than someone with a stocky build. You may both look the same holding the pose, yet you'll begin to feel tired sooner. What's happening on the inside is totally different. Focus on your connection with the ground and peacefully refocus whenever the mind wanders.

Those with a stronger body can focus on yoga breathing. Yoga breathing is breathing appropriately, filling the lungs from top to bottom, or bottom to top in restful breathing. Ideally everyone would be practicing yoga breathing while holding the pose; it's the focus of attention that is different.

Stability of Mind

If the mind is dull and lethargic, large upward movement of the arms will stimulate the body mind. While standing in Tadasana, raise arms overhead. You may even create a flow of movement, raising the arms on the inhalation and lowering them on the exhalation.

If on the other hand the mind is very active, pick a spot and focus the eyes on that spot to experience some stability. You may also focus the mind on the connection of the feet with the ground. Another choice is to silently repeat a word like "strength" or "peace" on the exhalation. Choose a word that has the greatest impact for you.

Temperature of Body

Always feeling cold? Build heat with stronger breathing during the yoga pose, especially in the cold seasons. Breathe into chest first, then abdomen second. Pay attention that your breathing is smooth and consistent. Use strong breathing to create heat in the body.

If on the other hand your body temperature tends to be hot, avoid over-heating by breathing bottom up, abdomen first chest second. Or you may breathe top down smoothly, quietly and gently. Relax your effort a bit to experience more coolness and less fire.

Learn more about your body according to Ayurveda and do have a safe practice.