If you are of medium build, athletic, tend to feel warmer and dislike being in the sun where you feel it becomes irritating, you may be a Pitta in the Ayurveda system from India. Practiced for 5,000 years, Ayurveda is a comprehensive system that include guidelines for diet, exercise, work, sleep and play. Pittas are fiery and when balanced are intelligent, driven, productive, leaders, competent, athletic and have good stamina. Unbalanced, however, can mean being belligerent, overbearing, bossy, competitive, blaming others for their errors, or aggressive.Pranayama is breath work to help cool the fires of Pitta without quenching them.
Instructions
1. Start by taking a brief walk or even doing a few push-ups or any kind of physical activity to release obvious tension. Doing so will make it easier for active Pittas to sit still for pranayama.
2. Sit in a chair where your spine is straight and your lungs easily inflate. If you have no back issues, sitting on the floor cross-legged or on a folded blanket is fine.
3. Begin by learning a variation of lion’s breath. This can be used to blow off steam and help you regain composure. It reduces the heat of Pitta agitation. Inhale through the nose and open the mouth, stick the tongue out, making a “ha” sound. This may be more satisfying than you realize. Repeat 3 to 5 times and then close the mouth, returning to normal breathing.
4. Learn viloma or three-part breath to further harness your considerable fire without allowing it to rage out of control (and burn you or others). Close the eyes and inhale to 1/3 of your capacity to the lower belly, pause.
5. Inhale another third to the level of the chest, pause. Inhale the last third to the sternum, top of the chest, pause. Exhale smoothly all the breath out. Take several recovery breaths. Repeat 3 to 5 more times. Rest.
6. Establishing a regular pranayama practice every morning is the traditional way to invite prana (life force) and direct it (yama) in a way to nourish the nadis (energetic pathways in the body). It is way to self-regulate one’s short fuse and can be a way to literally blow off steam.
7. Continue your pranayama daily for 30 days, practicing at the same time each day and in the same room if possible. Over time, your central nervous system will anticipate your pranayama and you may find it is too valuable to skip.
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