Yoga Body Types

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Jul 14 2008

Yoga Body Types

Posted at 8:02 am under Yoga

There are three basic body types that are genetically determined. Although body type is a basic structure that cannot be changed, health and relative body weight can. The body types are described here in terms of leanness, muscularity and roundness of the body. They correspond with two well-known systems of body type classification, which are the Ayurvedic body types of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and the Western system of Somatyping bodies as Ectomorph, Mesomorph and Endomorph.

This is your invitation to accept your body type or genetic constitution. It is a starting point from which health and a realistic body image can develop.

Combinations

A person can be a combination of two or all three body types, although one type is usually dominant. Most people are a combination of two body types. A person might be a muscular-round body type – predominantly round, with tendency to store fat easily, as well as being strong and muscular. In that case muscle definition will be concealed by a slightly rounded appearance, in maturity lean persons may develop a tendency to accumulate fatty tissue, but their physique generally will remain more slender than a truly round body type,

The Western societal ideal is the lean body type, or a combination of muscular and lean, like an athlete. The female ideal in this culture is lean, and the male ideal is muscular. These ideals are very difficult, and often unhealthy, for a person with a round body type to achieve.

This is also an invitation to love and accept your body, knowing that radiant good health and beauty will transcend your body type. When this inner beauty shines through, it can surpass that of people with a supposedly ideal body shape, but who have not accessed their own inner shine, their glow of health. It is also an invitation to honor diversity, to celebrate your uniqueness and that of others. So why not permit yourself to live in the glow of your health and well-being?