This week we’re getting back to our investigation of the three doshas with MSY yoga teacher trainee, Alex White . . .
Shout out to pitta dosha, my favorite! I am a little biased because this dosha is primary in my constitution. One’s constitution is usually a combination of two doshas. It’s unusual for someone to have just one primary dosha, and it’s very rare to find someone whose constitution is equal in all three doshas. Nevertheless, we can learn to identify our pitta tendencies no matter how the doshas are arranged in our own unique constitution.
So what does pitta dominance look like?
When pitta is dominant and in balance, determination and organization reign true. It’s as if we are predisposed to success at all times. If your constitution is high in pitta, you might often find yourself in leadership positions. You have a precise memory and a competitive spirit. If you were the kid in class who consistently knew the answer or were the all-star of the team, you are probably pitta. With an athletic physique and an above average IQ, it is no wonder pittas can be a little hard to handle.
When pitta becomes too high (as it is prone to do in the summer), it is true to the fire element that fuels it. Pitta presents physically as rashes, as well as acne. You might experience heartburn or acid reflux. Mentally, you may be easily angered or frustrated, or simply irritable. You might also experience attempting to grasp control – diving into work or manipulating loved ones. For me, the hardest thing to conquer when out of balance is the irrational thinking and acting. It’s like you are having an out-of-body experience during certain situations. It feels like PMS (which is a sign of pitta imbalance). Deep down you know the way you are behaving is ridiculous, but you cannot seem to gain access to practical side of your brain.
When looking up yoga asanas that help balance pitta, I was amazed at how much I truly favor these poses: Child’s Pose (Garbhasana), Cat-Cow (Marjaiasana- Bitilasana), Downward Facing Dog (Adho mukha svanasana), Head to Knee Pose (Janu sirsasana), and Supine Spinal Twist (Supta matsyendrasana). When you begin to feel or irrational acting spurring up within, take one or two of these poses and breathe.
Here are some other simple actions you can take to bring pitta back into balance and increase your wellbeing.
1. Place yourself in a cooled environment at all times, it will not benefit you to expose yourself to extreme heat.
2. Exercise with mild to moderate exertion. We know you’re drawn to high intensity activities, so you can still enjoy cycling, dancing, or running. Just keep it on the milder side of your usual workout and beware of overheating.
3. Practice expressing yourself calmly and or learn to not overreact when things go awry. Meditation is an awesome way to help with this. If you have trouble sitting for meditation, try a walking meditation.
4. Find activities that are fun and bring you joy, such as game night with family, hanging out with your favorite kiddos, or engaging in childlike play.
5. Incorporate time of active mental rest. This can look like doing puzzles, coloring, meditating, or some form of gentle yoga like yin or restorative.
6. Make sure your clothes are comfortable and do not hold heat. I suggest wearing loose-fitting clothing.
7. Laugh at yourself often.
8. Begin drinking water right after you brush your teeth in the morning.
I understand your pain pittas! Remember to breathe deeply and maybe buy a shirt that’s two sizes too big. ;)
Alex