4 Easy Yoga Techniques for Balancing Pitta

4 Easy Yoga Techniques for Balancing Pitta

According to Ayurveda, our body is composed of 3 doshas, pitta, vata,
and kapha and it is important to keep them balanced. Pitta is composed
of fire and water and holds the qualities of light, oily, hot, acidic, sharp,
and liquid. When these elements become imbalanced within the body
and mind their qualities can be seen in excess. 

Signs that your pitta needs to be balanced

• Frequent episodes of feeling angry or frustrated
• Skin prone to rashes and eruptions
• Feeling impatient and irritable
• Pre-mature thinning or graying of hair
• Waking up early and difficulty in falling asleep again
• Discomfort during hot weather
• Experiencing hot flashes
• Excess acid in stomach
• Experiencing loose bowel movements
• Dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea

If you are experiencing pitta imbalance in your body, there is nothing
to worry about as certain lifestyle changes along with yoga can help
in achieving the desired balance. Slow, cooling, and grounding yoga
can help in catering to the needs of an aggravated pitta. The
yoga courses must focus on postures and variation of postures.
The postures should be held without irritation. Asanas such as forward
folds, seated postures, and supine postures can help in pacifying
aggravated pitta. However, you must try to avoid poses involving
backbends and heart openers. It is to be kept in mind that when you
perform yoga for balancing pitta, how you perform the asana is as
important as the posture. As mentioned above, pitta holds the qualities
of sharp and fire and you must not add fuel to the fire. The asana
and transitions should be made slowly and passively. This will reduce
excess of heat dwelling in the mind and body.

Let’s have a look at 4 easy asanas that can help in pacifying the pitta:

• Supta Badha Konasana- Butterfly Pose

This pose helps in reducing the feeling of anxiety and depression
along with fatigue. It also helps in relieving menstrual discomfort and
stretches the inner thighs and groin. It is the passive and grounding
nature of the pose that will help in soothing irritation or tension caused
by pitta dosha.

• Viparita Karani- Legs Up the Wall

The asana helps in relieving stress and tension from mind and body.
It also helps in relieving tension from the hip and lower back. It helps in
promoting blood circulation in the body and flushes out the lymphatic system.
The blood flow from feet to the rest of the body will help in bringing in a
sense of cool and balance the heat of pitta.

• Balasana- Child Pose

The child’s pose is effective in reducing stress and calming the
nervous system. It also relieves tension from lower back and hips.
It is the grounding nature of the pose that makes pitta surrender.

• Paschimottanasana- Seated Forward Fold

The pose massages the digestive organs gently along with stretching
the shoulders, spine, and hamstrings. It also helps in calming the mind.
People with pitta dosha experience bouts of heat physically, mentally, as
well as emotionally, the forward fold pose will help in calming and
cooling the mind. 

Additional Tips for Balancing Pitta

• Try to keep cool avoiding hot temperature and food
• Avoid having sour, salty, spicy, oily, and heavy food items
• Maintain regular mealtimes
• Try to get enough sleep and go to bed early
• Get Ayurvedic oil massage ‘ Abhyanga’ with a cooling oil such as coconut
• Don’t overwork and stress yourself
• Spend some leisure time in doing activities that brings peace

Diet for Pacifying Pitta

Milk, butter, and ghee are considered good for pacifying pitta 
Avoid yogurt, cheese, sour cream, and cultured milk as they can aggravate pitta
Avoid sweeteners such as honey and molasses
Sunflower, olive, and coconut oil are good for pitta but avoid sesame,

almond, and corn oil
Grapes, cherries, melons, avocados, coconut, mangoes, pomegranates,

and ripened oranges, plums, and pineapples are good

Have asparagus, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins,

broccoli, cauliflower, okra, celery, green beans, and Zucchini

Spices

such as coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel are good for pitta

Following a healthy lifestyle and following the easy 4 yoga techniques
can gradually help in balancing pitta dosha. 

The author of the article is Kedar Yoga Center in Goa, India. They conduct yoga
workshops, yoga teacher training (200-Hour Multi-Style Yoga Course,
international certification) and much more at very affordable prices in a private resort in
Goa, India.