As a kapha, you are forgiving and supportive and avoid conflict. You stay in
relationships, jobs, and other situations long after they’re nourishing in order to keep the peace. "Physically, that translates into gaining weight more easily, accumulating fluid, a tendency toward
diabetes sinus problems, and possibly even congestive heart failure in the long run," explains David Simon, M.D.
The best medicine for a sluggish kapha is daily vigorous exercise. "Kaphas have a predisposition to be lethargic, and the key to offsetting that is to get the body moving," says Jessica Faulkner, certified Perfect Health instructor at the Chopra Center.
"Sun salutations are a great way to get into motion," Faulkner says. "We recommend doing 12 sets of the classic 12–position salute, moving at a rapid pace, not resting in between." Get started with these instructions.
1. To begin, stand straight and tall, with feet together. Bring the hands together at the center of the chest in Prayer pose.
2. Inhale as you reach the arms overhead, bending slightly backward.
3. Bend forward at the hips on the exhalation, and touch the floor.
4. On an inhalation, step the right foot back into a runner’s lunge. Look up.
5. As you exhale, bring the left foot back to meet the right, drop both hands to the floor directly beneath your shoulders, and balance your weight between your hands and feet while keeping your back straight. This is plank position; imagine that you are a plank. Inhale here.
6. As you exhale, drop knees, chest, and chin to the floor, hands by chest, toes turned under. You’ll look and feel like an inchworm.
7. Inhale as you draw the chest forward between the hands, extending through the legs, and pressing the pelvis into the floor. This is Cobra pose.
8. Exhale as you push through the hands and feet, and extend the hips toward the sky. Arms and legs will be straight; the body will form an inverted V. This is Downward Dog pose. You can hold this position for up to three breaths, working to balance the weight equally between the hands and feet.
9. Inhale as you step forward with the right foot into a runner’s lunge. Look up.
10. Exhale as you step the left foot forward to meet the right, and touch the floor in a forward fold.
11. Inhale as you sweep the arms overhead as you return to standing and arch slightly backward.
12. Exhale as you return to starting position with feet grounded on the floor and hands folded at the center of the chest. This is one set.
For more information on the healing power of Ayurveda, see the issue of Natural Health Magazine
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One of your body’s most useful 
