Today I am going to write about the Ayurvedic approach to exercise. In America we tend to think of exercise as something rather unpleasant. It is something we do because it is good for us, and we don't tend to consider an activity as being exercise unless it feels like hard work. If we are breathless, highly sweaty, and miserable, then we must be getting a good workout...right?
Wrong. When we exercise, we should be working with our bodies and not trying to beat them into submission. Exercising is something that our bodies are built to enjoy. Our bodies are built to walk, lift, climb, dance, and sprint.
Looking at our ancestors and their lifestyles, we can see what we are built to do. Hunters walked great distances to track animals, sometimes sprinting to catch them. Humans are not built for marathon running. Our ancestors built endurance through a lifestyle that included physical movement from a young age. When we exercise, we should also be building endurance gradually, which naturally occurs as we listen to our bodies. As children, we cannot instantly climb trees. We try again and again, each time getting a little bit higher. We develop our skills as children by listening to our bodies and trusting the messages they give us. As adults we develop the fear that our bodies limit us. We view our bodies as enemies that we must control through disciplined workout programs. We usually do this to maintain some type of physical image rather than just to be healthy. What if we just exercised because it was fun?
The disconnect between mind and body is our first problem with the way we exercise. If we are not being kind to our body, how can we expect it to do what we want? When we are working out and begin to breathe through our mouths, our body is telling us we need to slow down. We often ignore this message, thinking we need to push to improve. This abuse of our physical body creates stress, which triggers the release of hormones that limit our physical function and work against our fitness goals.
When we exercise, we should be patient with ourselves. We are not going to stop ourselves from improving if we don't push hard. Our bodies develop endurance with slight increases each time we exercise. We don't have to make ourselves hate exercise in order for it to be beneficial. We don't need to run miles each day to be healthy. Each person naturally is suited to different types of exercise, and by respecting our natural talents, we can begin to enjoy exercise and look forward to it.
Vata type people have smaller framed bodies and less endurance. They will enjoy dancing because they love music, sprinting because they are light and quick, and light weight training because it is grounding. Pitta types have a natural heat that makes them enjoy winter and water sports and swimming. These types are also highly competitive and will become imbalanced if they engage in too many solitary sports like tennis or martial arts. Kapha types naturally have high endurance and large muscles, so of all the types these are the most suited for marathon running. However, being dominated by earth, Kapha types want exercise with a purpose. They are very social and tend to enjoy team activities and exercise classes. All types can benefit from Yoga, as long as Pitta types stay away from hot Yoga.
Many studies have been done comparing the health benefits of walking to running and weight training programs, and comparing Yoga to other exercise programs. In one study, researchers found stress markers indicating heart attack conditions in marathon runners. Another study found that walking was just as beneficial as a medical fitness program including weight training for preventing heart disease and complications from type 2 diabetes.
In order to exercise effectively, Ayurveda teaches us that we should be able to breathe in and out through the nose. If we must breathe through the mouth, our body is going into emergency mode and we should slow down, take a break, or stop. Exercise can be any movement we enjoy. It doesn't have to be an hour at an indoor gym doing a weight training or cardiovascular circuit. It can be gardening, yard work, home renovations, hiking, walking, or dancing in your kitchen. Look for activities you like to do and exercise will be fun instead of just a "workout".
Since this is a blog and not a research article, I have given information without citations. If anyone is interested in the research studies I discuss, feel free to ask me for the references and I can provide them. I can be reached at [email protected].
Wrong. When we exercise, we should be working with our bodies and not trying to beat them into submission. Exercising is something that our bodies are built to enjoy. Our bodies are built to walk, lift, climb, dance, and sprint.
Looking at our ancestors and their lifestyles, we can see what we are built to do. Hunters walked great distances to track animals, sometimes sprinting to catch them. Humans are not built for marathon running. Our ancestors built endurance through a lifestyle that included physical movement from a young age. When we exercise, we should also be building endurance gradually, which naturally occurs as we listen to our bodies. As children, we cannot instantly climb trees. We try again and again, each time getting a little bit higher. We develop our skills as children by listening to our bodies and trusting the messages they give us. As adults we develop the fear that our bodies limit us. We view our bodies as enemies that we must control through disciplined workout programs. We usually do this to maintain some type of physical image rather than just to be healthy. What if we just exercised because it was fun?
The disconnect between mind and body is our first problem with the way we exercise. If we are not being kind to our body, how can we expect it to do what we want? When we are working out and begin to breathe through our mouths, our body is telling us we need to slow down. We often ignore this message, thinking we need to push to improve. This abuse of our physical body creates stress, which triggers the release of hormones that limit our physical function and work against our fitness goals.
When we exercise, we should be patient with ourselves. We are not going to stop ourselves from improving if we don't push hard. Our bodies develop endurance with slight increases each time we exercise. We don't have to make ourselves hate exercise in order for it to be beneficial. We don't need to run miles each day to be healthy. Each person naturally is suited to different types of exercise, and by respecting our natural talents, we can begin to enjoy exercise and look forward to it.
Vata type people have smaller framed bodies and less endurance. They will enjoy dancing because they love music, sprinting because they are light and quick, and light weight training because it is grounding. Pitta types have a natural heat that makes them enjoy winter and water sports and swimming. These types are also highly competitive and will become imbalanced if they engage in too many solitary sports like tennis or martial arts. Kapha types naturally have high endurance and large muscles, so of all the types these are the most suited for marathon running. However, being dominated by earth, Kapha types want exercise with a purpose. They are very social and tend to enjoy team activities and exercise classes. All types can benefit from Yoga, as long as Pitta types stay away from hot Yoga.
Many studies have been done comparing the health benefits of walking to running and weight training programs, and comparing Yoga to other exercise programs. In one study, researchers found stress markers indicating heart attack conditions in marathon runners. Another study found that walking was just as beneficial as a medical fitness program including weight training for preventing heart disease and complications from type 2 diabetes.
In order to exercise effectively, Ayurveda teaches us that we should be able to breathe in and out through the nose. If we must breathe through the mouth, our body is going into emergency mode and we should slow down, take a break, or stop. Exercise can be any movement we enjoy. It doesn't have to be an hour at an indoor gym doing a weight training or cardiovascular circuit. It can be gardening, yard work, home renovations, hiking, walking, or dancing in your kitchen. Look for activities you like to do and exercise will be fun instead of just a "workout".
Since this is a blog and not a research article, I have given information without citations. If anyone is interested in the research studies I discuss, feel free to ask me for the references and I can provide them. I can be reached at [email protected].