Body types in Ayurveda

The Best Workout For Your Body Type

Average Reading Time: 10 minutes and 27 seconds

A recent survey asked the question, “Why is it that 80% of Americans do not exercise regularly?” By far the most common response is that people are too busy and simply can’t find the time. (1) Could this be why more than ten million Americans are exercising less today than just three years ago, because they are just too busy? Could it be so simple?

It has been my experience that when people like something, they find time for it. I believe the real reason why 80% of Americans are not exercising regularly is simple. It’s because they do not enjoy it. It’s a workout, something you have to do, not something you look forward to. Making exercise fun again will not only keep us doing it, but will deliver numerous health benefits from exercise that are not available from our conventional approach.

For years, we have been encouraged to exercise by the experts because of its pronounced health benefits. People who exercise regularly on the whole have less chronic disease, but only recently studies have shown some not-so-good effects of exercise. Many reports have linked too much exercise with compromised immune systems. (2-5) The problem is that at the present time, the experts don’t know how much exercise is good and how much more is harmful. There can be no standard answer to this question that will apply to everyone. The fact is that we are all different and have individual requirements for exercise. This understanding of individual body typing is not, by any means, new. Arguably the first system of body typing was in ancient India’s Ayurvedic (science of life) medicine, where ten unique mind-body types are identified, each with its unique strengths, talents, likes and dislikes. Understanding who you are can help you determine how much exercise you need, as well as the type of activity that would be best suited for you.

While I tried to cover this topic well in this article, much more on this topic can be found in my book, Body, Mind and Sport.

Who Are YOU?

In elementary school, girls and boys alike are required to run the mile under ten minutes in order to pass the class. This can be quite a feat, depending on your body type.

When Sharon was ten, she came to me in tears to get a note so she would never have to go to gym class again. She had just run the mile for the first time, and although she gave her heart and soul, she finished in eleven and a half minutes, failing the class. She was humiliated and could not face her class ever again.