Ayurveda recognizes three doshas or humor – pitta and kapha – that make up our bodily compositions in different combinations. Each person has a different combination of these doshas.

Kapha dosha combines water and earth elements that rule the springtime. The chest and lungs are the main places where kapha is found. Kapha’s qualities include being heavy, slow, dense, dull, soft, oily, and cold.

Spring is here, and we may notice excess kapha in the formed mucus in our lungs, sleepiness and lethargy, weight gain, slow digestion, and low energy levels. Excessive kapha can be reduced by practicing yoga during the Kapha hours (6:00-10:00 AM and 6:00-10:00 PM).

These nine yoga poses (and one sequence: Sun Salutation) will help balance.

 Sun Salutation. Sun salutations encourage heat and mobility to counter Kapha’s cold and stable nature. They are an excellent way for lymph to move first thing in the day and promote circulation.

Twisting Chair. This position builds heat in the legs and pushes out stagnation from the chest and lungs due to excess kapha. Moving side-to-side with the breath and holding it for longer can be helpful.

Half Moon. This is a great way to prevent and manage (slow digestion). It moves and awakens your digestive organs and also stretches your entire abdomen. Side-to-side motion offers more space to the lungs. This is because excess mucus from excess kapha can build up.

Warrior II. This pose is ideal for generating heat to help Kapha. The extended arms invite space to the front, where kapha lives.

Triangle. Triangle. The lateral flexion, similar to Half Moon, helps with sluggish digestion. It also opens the chest space and lungs to move things along. This pose strengthens your core, back, legs, and core.

Tree. Standing on one leg means all other limbs are elevated above the ground. This balances the earth element of Kapha. They are turning the gaze upwards while in Tree is possible to counteract the dense, heavy Kapha.

Bow. This backbend stimulates the internal digestive fire and massages the organs.

Upward Plank. The upward plank can be a great heat builder for your arms, back, legs, and chest.

Headstand. Headstand. This reverses the flow of blood in the body. The accumulated fluid in the legs and ankles (which can be caused due to too much kapha), gets the chance for movement and drainage. Headstands can also help kapha avoid getting stuck in their old routines and give them a new outlook on the world.