Oversleeping and Difficulty Waking
Some clients who experience sleep disturbances are more of a Kapha nature. These clients may be oversleeping. They fall asleep early, sleep in late, have difficulty waking, and will fall asleep any time of the day. These are clearly not Vata dosha problems. If you have already worked with digestion and elimination, it may be time to focus your attention on ways in which you can raise the level of Prana to increase their energy. The five Vayus will still play a role, because they help to take in and distribute energy in the body. In this case, they are being underutilized!
The state of Prana Vayu is determined by our sensory intake during the day and our relationship with the breath. Typically, these clients are not engaging enough in sensory input during the day. They are engaging in activities that do not challenge them or increase their rate of respiration. Without adequate Prana moving through their body, they lack the energy to take on the day. Exercise and breathwork, especially on waking and during Kapha times of day will support them to feel more awake and alert. Stimulating sensory input is needed to keep the heavy Kapha mind light and agile.
The state of Samana Vayu is affected by our respect for the natural rhythms of the day and supportive self-care routines. Kapha nature clients or those with Kapha dosha imbalance may be overdoing their attachment to these rhythms and have allowed their days to become dull and uninspiring. While Kapha dosha loves routine, when those routines become rote, they have lost their balancing qualities. It is essential for all of us, but especially so for Kapha, to allow those routines to shift as the seasons change. Waking earlier in the Spring and Summer and a little later in Fall and Winter is one example. Another is including daily strenuous activity during the late Fall, late Winter and Spring to keep that heavy Kapha energy at bay. Kapha wants the day, not their habit, to determine their level of activity and engagement.
Vyana Vayu is reflective of the flow of the day, and this again is where Kapha may stagnate Prana by having very little movement or spontaneity in their day. This leaves the mind feeling dull and maybe even a little bored. The familiar is certainly comfortable, but routine will help us sleep better than it will help us stay awake. By including exercise in the day, stretching, aerobic, and strength training, Kapha will increase their physical movement. Spontaneity, saying “YES” to something new or different, and mixing things up a little bit will keep the Kapha mind lighter.
Udana Vayu is most pacified when our work is aligned with our values; when this occurs, we experience a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day that leads to deep and restful sleep. Kapha dosha may do this very well but may also tend to stay in work that is uninspiring because it is comfortable and familiar. I am not encouraging your Kapha clients to quit their jobs! To pacify Udana Vayu, they may want to reassess if the job is aligned with their purpose and values and to discover how to assure that their purpose and values are expressed in all areas of their lives.
While we don’t often associate Apana Vayu in Kapha types as “Constipated”, it can become stuck. This may appear as sluggishness in the bowels or the mind. For both conditions physical movement is essential. It seems too easy an answer to say, “Kaphas must Exercise,” but I believe that to be too true. When the muscles are more toned, the peristalsis is more complete, supporting full evacuation. When the Prana is drawn into the tissues, the body feels lighter and more energetic and better able to stay awake during the day.
The five Vayus are impacted by our diet and lifestyle and, when imbalanced, create disturbances in our body and/or mind resulting in sleep difficulties. Too often we think that these only impact Vata dosha, but we are a product of the function of the three doshas. When sleep eludes us, Vata dosha is primarily out of balance and we can recreate balance with the five Vayus. When sleep overcomes us during the day, Kapha dosha is primarily out of balance, stagnating the flow of Prana by suppressing the actions of the five Vayus. By focusing on diet and lifestyle over sedatives and stimulants, we better serve our clients in the long run.