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2:30 min read
That which moves things
Vata is the Dosha (or vital energy) in which the air and ether elements predominate. According to ancient Vedic texts, Vata’s core qualities are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear; and without it, our existence would lack movement.
This Dosha is responsible for the ability to adapt and all movement. It accounts for your activity, communication, change, and creation. It governs your bone structure, nervous system, blood flow, and two of your senses: hearing and touch. Vata is associated with catabolism, destructive metabolism involving the release of energy and resulting in the breakdown of complex materials within the organism.
In your body, Vata includes all physical and physiological movements, including breath, elimination (bowel movements), sensory perception, memory, and speech. It is also the most dominant Dosha in the later stages of life.
How do I know if this is my most dominant Dosha?
If your most influential Dosha is Vata, you probably relate to various of the following points:
- Lively, enthusiastic, and talkative.
- Flexible, agile, with sudden bursts of energy.
- Very creative mind, always on the go, and continually engaging in different activities.
- Might have a hard time staying in the same place for an extended time and staying still, in general.
- You love excitement and new experiences.
- Learn quickly, but also forget quickly.
- Skin and hair are usually dry, while hands and feet are often cold.
- Light sleep and have an irregular routine.
How can I tell if it´s out of balance?
When out of balance, people with a predominant Vata constitution tend to worry a lot, feel lonely, suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and constipation. They may experience weight loss, lack of energy, lack of concentration, hair loss, and brittle nails. Communication can be affected, and they may even have muscle spasms, tics, and overall nervousness.
Other typical Vata health problems include hypertension, irregular heart rhythm, dry cough, sore throat, earaches, lower back pain, constipation, and abdominal gas, amongst others.
How can I start balancing it?
To restore and balance Vata, you need to use opposite qualities such as slowing down, heating your body, grounding yourself, consuming rich nourishing foods, and doing 30 minutes of slow exercise daily.
We recommend you to follow a Vata diet. You can read more about it here.
Doshas exist in several things, not just in persons. Tastes, seasons, climates, landscapes, plants, and animals lean towards a specific energy combination.
Vata’s predominance can be found in astringent flavors, windy fall afternoons, deserts, bamboo, or even a hummingbird.
An easy daily routine to balance Vata
A simple Dinacharya (or daily routine) that you can follow for Vata is as follows:
- Try to go to bed at 10 P.M. at the latest and wake up at 6 A.M.
- Always have your meals at the same time. This will help balance the excess movement and lightness that disrupts Vata by bringing more grounding qualities.
- Keep your body warm, especially your head during cold weather, and drink ginger tea. Avoid cold beverages.
- One of Vata’s best remedies is Abhyanga (oil massage), which you can give yourself daily. Some of the best oils for Vata are heavy ones like sesame, almond, or avocado.
- Favor sweet, sour, salty foods; and fresh, natural, and, ideally, organic ingredients.
- Do mild exercise like Yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and walking or short hikes, ideally in nature. Even hug a tree.
- Wear warmer colors.
Remember to check your Vikruti (or current state of Dosha balance) at least every quarter or whenever you feel something is off, and adjust your Dinacharya accordingly. When you are the most balanced, you feel the best, and you will realize that´s what it takes to feel amazing in your own skin.