Finding Harmony Through Yoga and Ayurveda: A Practice for Your Unique Nature
To be honest, I have to disagree with what many famous yoga teachers say : “the more you practice and all will come”. But what about if the series of asanas you perform each day are not serving you ?
To me : not everyone will benefit from the same yoga practice. A dynamic sequence full of arm balances or deep backbends can energize some people… but completely exhaust others. Why is that?
Because we are not all built the same. We each carry a different internal landscape , shaped by our constitution, our lifestyle, our emotions, and even our thoughts.
When I began my 300-hour Holistic Yoga Teacher Training in 2020, which beautifully blended Ayurveda along with Yin Yoga and Fascia, it completely shifted my understanding of yoga. I realized how deeply individual our needs truly are. What may bring healing and balance to one person might easily throw another off center. Even two sisters, sharing the same parents, can have completely different doshas and therefore, completely different needs.
And that’s where Ayurveda steps in, this ancient, holistic system that sees us as part of nature itself. It teaches that when we understand our unique dosha (our constitution), we can practice yoga, eat, rest, and live in a way that brings us back into homeostasis, that sweet place of inner balance and peace.
As David Frawley beautifully writes in his book Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization :
“Like yoga, with which it has grown, Ayurveda possesses a long history with many layers, much diversity, and a continuous development that makes it relevant for all people and all times… With its unique understanding of individual constitution, Ayurveda provides the insight for each person and each culture to create a way of life in harmony both with the world of nature and our higher Self.”
Ayurveda isn’t just about herbs or diet, it’s about living in tune with your true nature. It’s about aligning your practice, your breath, your pace, your food, your rest… everything… with who you are.
Many women today are moving so fast, giving so much, trying to hold everything together… that we forget one simple truth: our bodies are cyclical, not mechanical.
In Ayurveda, there’s a beautiful way to understand this ebb and flow, through the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
These are the three main energies that shape everything in nature, including you.
Each dosha has its own personality, its own rhythm, strengths, and challenges.
And when one of them goes out of balance, we start to feel “off”: maybe anxious, tired, irritated, bloated, or unmotivated.
But when we understand these energies, we can work with our body, not against it.
So, let’s explore them together :
VATA — THE AIR & SPACE ENERGY
Vata is the dancer, the dreamer, the one who moves quickly and feels deeply.
When balanced, Vata is creative, spontaneous, and full of inspiration.
But when life gets too hectic or unpredictable, Vata energy can scatter, leaving you anxious, cold, and exhausted.
✨ For Vata in Yoga:
Choose slow, grounding, warming practices.
Yin Yoga, slow Hatha flows, restorative poses held for long breaths, these are medicine for you.
Focus on stability: feel your feet rooted, your breath steady, your movements gentle and intentional.
Think of each exhale as an anchor, each pose as a safe home for your nervous system.
Off the mat, eat warm nourishing meals, create a daily rhythm, and let yourself be still.
Your body doesn’t need more stimulation, it needs safety.
PITTA — THE FIRE & WATER ENERGY
Pitta is the inner fire, strong, determined, passionate.
When balanced, you shine with confidence and clarity.
But when this fire burns too hot, it turns into irritation, perfectionism, or even burnout.
✨ For Pitta in Yoga:
Practice cooling and soothing sequences.
Avoid the temptation to push or compete on the mat.
Try moon salutations instead of sun salutations, forward bends, gentle twists, and long savasanas.
Focus on releasing heat , physically and emotionally.
End your practice with cooling breathwork (like Sheetali), and always remind yourself:
You are not here to achieve the perfect pose, you are here to soften, to let go.
In daily life, choose foods and people that bring calm rather than intensity.
Be kind to yourself. Your inner fire doesn’t need to prove anything, it just needs to glow steadily.
KAPHA — THE EARTH & WATER ENERGY
Kapha is your stability, your heart, your calm presence.
When balanced, Kapha is grounded, loyal, and compassionate.
But when too much Kapha builds up, life can start feeling heavy, slow, or uninspired.
✨ For Kapha in Yoga:
Choose energizing, stimulating, uplifting practices.
Dynamic Vinyasa flows, gentle backbends, and pranayama that activate your inner fire (like Kapalabhati or Bhastrika) are wonderful for you.
Move with rhythm and joy , dance, sweat, open your chest, feel your heart beat again.
The key for Kapha is to create momentum, just a little spark is enough to awaken your joy.
COMING BACK TO BALANCE
When we start to understand our dosha, we begin to see that Yoga is not only a physical practice, it’s a dialogue with our own energy.
We often feel attracted to what we like (the fiery one loves strong flows, the airy one loves fast change, the earthy one loves rest)… but Ayurveda teaches us that what we need is often the opposite, the balancing quality.
So if you’re feeling ungrounded — slow down.
If you’re overheating — soften.
If you’re heavy — move.
This is Yoga in its most beautiful form: a practice of awareness, not performance.
A FINAL REFLECTION
Take a deep breath, place your hand on your heart, and ask yourself:
“What do I need today to feel balanced?”
Your answer may change every day and that’s perfectly okay.
Because true balance is not something to achieve, it’s something to feel, moment by moment.
If you don’t yet know your dosha, feel free to email me, I can send you a short test to discover it. It’s the first step toward finding the Yoga practice that truly serves you.
Remember, your body wants to heal. It already knows the way.
You just need to listen.
With love and balance,
Audrey