ONEYOGAHOUSE

The Doshas

Ayurveda identifies three primary energy types, or doshas, that influence our physical and mental characteristics including body type, personality, and health tendencies.

• Vata (air and space) is associated with movement, creativity, and energy. When imbalanced, it can lead to anxiety, dryness, or digestive issues.
• Pitta (fire and water) is linked to metabolism, intelligence, and focus. Imbalances might cause irritability, inflammation, or skin problems.
• Kapha (earth and water) represents stability, strength, and calmness. An imbalance can result in sluggishness, weight gain, or depression.

The five elements

Ayurveda also revolves around the balance of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—believed to compose the universe and all living beings.

Holistic harmony

Health, according to Ayurveda, is not just the absence of disease but a state where the body, mind, and spirit are in harmony with the environment.

Ayurveda believes that food is medicine, and eating according to your dosha can help maintain balance. For example:

• Vata types benefit from warm, grounding foods like soups and stews
• Pitta types thrive on cooling foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits
• Kapha types do well with light, spicy, and dry foods to counter their heavier constitution

Ayurveda encourages adopting a daily routine (dinacharya) that aligns with your natural rhythms. For example, you should:

• Start your day with tongue scraping and oil pulling to remove toxins
• Practice yoga or meditation to balance your mind
• Eat your largest meal at midday, when your digestion is strongest

Just as the seasons change, your body’s needs change too. For instance:

• In the winter: Focus on warming foods, such as hearty soups, stews, and spiced teas like ginger or cinnamon to improve circulation and keep your body warm. Practices like oil massages and wearing layers to protect against the cold can also be beneficial.
• In the summer: Emphasize hydration and cooling activities. Eat foods like watermelon, cucumber, and leafy greens, drink coconut water, and incorporate herbs like mint or coriander into your meals to cool the body. You can also practice calming yoga poses, avoid excessive sun exposure, and opt for lightweight, breathable clothing to stay comfortable.

Try using herbal medicines and homeopathic remedies to improve your health naturally. Some common Ayurvedic herbs include:

• Ashwagandha: Reduces stress and improves energy
• Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouse
• Triphala: A combination of three fruits that supports digestion and detoxification

While Ayurveda is ancient, modern research has increasingly validated its practices. Studies show that Ayurvedic herbs like turmeric have potent anti-inflammatory properties, and yoga has measurable benefits for stress reduction and cardiovascular health. The integration of Ayurveda with contemporary medicine offers a promising approach to personalized healthcare.

If you’re new to Ayurveda, here’s how you can begin:

• Determine your dosha: Many online quizzes can give you a general idea, but consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner is the most accurate way to find out.
• Start small with lifestyle changes: Incorporate one Ayurvedic practice into your routine, like tongue scraping or drinking herbal teas.
• Learn and experiment: Ayurveda is a journey of self-discovery. Listen to your body and adjust your lifestyle as needed.

Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom provides a great roadmap for achieving balance and harmony in a chaotic world. Whether you’re looking to improve your physical health, calm your mind, or enhance your spiritual well-being, Ayurveda offers practical, holistic, and personalized solutions.

We offer a diverse range of classes suited to practitioners of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced yogis. Our yoga teachers come from all lineages and studies, from Katonah and Iyengar, to Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Whether you’re drawn to a hot, vigorous flow, a gentle, restorative practice, or a meditative sound therapy session, there’s something for everyone. Each class is thoughtfully designed to cater to different needs and preferences, ensuring that you find the practice that resonates with you.

Our most popular specialty classes include:

Our pilates classes will challenge you in exercises that chisel your abs, tone your glutes, and sculpt long, lean muscles. You will use your own body weight, yoga blocks, magic circles, and resistance bands.

This class combines a gentle slow flow and restorative yin postures and closes with a deep meditation session to explore the quietude of your mind.

This is a heated Vinyasa flow experience that is intentional, fun, and guided by the rhythm of the breath. Expect lots of movement with a focus on functional exercises. It’s an open-level class that’s powered by radiant infrared panels and an air purification system to minimize airborne dust, pollen, and germs.

Taught by senior teachers, master classes are an opportunity for intermediate yogis and teachers to deepen their practice through an extended study of the asanas. You’ll incorporate more advanced postures, yoga philosophy, and anatomical education.

This class breaks down the fundamentals of key yoga postures for both people who have never taken a yoga class and practitioners who have some knowledge of the practice but would like to renew and strengthen their foundation.

Explore somatic movement exercises to help re-educate the way your brain moves, holds, and senses your muscles. You’ll commence class with an extended savasana and gradually enter into yoga asanas.

In this internal strength class using the Kinstretch® Method, focus on the determinants of your movement (i.e. ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue) rather than the external organization of movement (i.e. specific yoga poses). Through self-assessment, you’ll learn about your current range of motion and exercise more control.

Similar to The Fiery ONE, expect an open-level, but room temperature, Vinyasa class woven with elements of Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, or Katonah Yoga. These yoga classes are intelligently sequenced at a slower, sweeter pace to ease you into the practice, allowing time for your body to adapt to movement. You are sure to break a sweat by building heat from within.

At OYH, you’re part of a supportive and inclusive community from day one. Whether you attend classes regularly or drop in occasionally, you’ll find camaraderie and encouragement from fellow practitioners and instructors alike. The studio fosters connections beyond the mat, offering workshops, events, retreats, and social gatherings to support local businesses (like brunch and oyster shucking) where you can connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your practice both on and off the mat.