Why I Even Bothered With Customized Yoga Routines (a.k.a. The Dosha Thing)
So yeah — customized yoga routines literally hit me in the face (figuratively, okay?) when my friend Shayla, this crunchy holistic type who wears tie-dye Crocs unironically, told me I was definitely a “Vata with a spicy Pitta imbalance.” 🙃
At first, I was like, “What now?” But then I googled “Ayurvedic Dosha” while eating flaming hot Cheetos on my couch in Ohio at like 11:47 p.m. because, obviously, that’s when all good decisions happen.
Anyway, long story long: I ended up diving headfirst into the world of customized yoga routines based on Ayurvedic body types. And boy. Oh. Boy. It got… real.
\H2: Okay But What Are Ayurvedic Doshas (And Why Should I Care If I’m a Vata-Pitta-Tornado?)\
According to Ayurveda (which, btw, is this 5,000-year-old Indian health system that honestly lowkey makes a lotta sense when you’re not fighting it), everyone has a unique combo of three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
- Vata = air + space = “why can’t I sit still or feel warm ever??”
- Pitta = fire + water = “I have opinions. Loud ones.”
- Kapha = earth + water = “You mean I have to get up right now?”
Each dosha has its own vibe, problems, and preferred yoga flavors. Once you figure out your mix, you can actually do yoga that helps instead of… I dunno, making you sweat and sob at the same time (been there).
\H2: My “Customized Yoga Routines” Trials and Hilarious Errors\
Let’s get into the messy middle of my spiritual gym class.
\H3: Vata Yoga — AKA “Warm Me Up Before I Disintegrate”\
So apparently, I’m heavy on the Vata (air + ether, like… okay Avatar character energy). I started doing grounding, slow yoga in the mornings.
Mistakes I made:
- Doing it outside in October. In Ohio. At 6 a.m. IN WIND.
- Listening to Enya. I got too relaxed and spilled tea on myself.
What worked:
- Restorative yoga with hella blankets and a heating pad shoved under my spine like a burrito
- Doing the same flow every day for like two weeks. Predictability helped my flaky Vata brain.
\H3: Pitta Yoga — “Cool Down, Sis”\
When I felt myself rage-scrolling Twitter at 7 a.m., I knew my Pitta was flaring up like a spicy rash. Pitta peeps need:
- Cooling poses like forward folds and twists
- Breathing slower than a sloth in a hammock
My go-to became doing child’s pose with an ice pack (yep) and spritzing rosewater spray like I was in a skincare ad. Also: lots of moon salutations.
What didn’t work:
- Hot yoga. Honestly, WHY did I think adding more heat to internal fire was cute??
\H3: Kapha Yoga — “Move, Just… Move At All”\
I don’t naturally have a lot of Kapha, but when I was in my slumpiest slump? Full-blown sleepy snail mode.
Kapha yoga is like:
- Big movements. Flow. Sun salutations.
- Invigorating playlists. I used one that started with Lizzo and ended in a remix of Gregorian chants. No regrets.
Mistakes:
- Doing it at night. My Kapha went, “Cool, we’re awake now at 11 p.m.”
\H2: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Customized Yoga Routines\
Real talk: I thought this whole customized yoga routines thing was gonna be, like, a Pinterest board. Easy peasy. But no.
Stuff nobody told me:
- Your dosha can shift based on the season, your stress level, or whether Mercury’s in Gatorade or whatever
- You can be all three doshas! Messily!
- Ayurveda’s not a rulebook. It’s more like… suggestions from an old, wise aunt who smells like chai.
Also: I didn’t magically become flexible or centered or anything. I just stopped dreading yoga.
And started loving my version of it. With herbal chai, a cranky cat watching, and sometimes… no yoga at all.
\H2: So Should You Try Customized Yoga Routines Based on Ayurvedic Dosha Types?\
Only if:
- You’ve ever hated yoga and felt like the problem was you (hint: it’s not)
- You want a reason to buy more candles and weird herbal sprays
- You’re open to laughing at yourself a little (or a lot)
Wrap-Up & A Little Dare 🎯
So yeah, customized yoga routines aren’t gonna fix your life. But they might make your mornings feel less like a soul-sucking void and more like a warm, weird hug from yourself.
Try one routine based on your dosha. Just once. Even if it’s a mess. Especially if it’s a mess.
LMK how it goes. I wanna hear your cringe, your wins, your accidental naps mid-savasana.
