Tell me about Vata

Vata’s elemental makeup consists of air and ether. The common translation of Vata is “that which moves things.” Vata is often referred to as the vayu (wind) in the body, and it is the primary motivating force of the doshas—without it, the other doshas are unable to move.

According to Ayurveda, Vata is responsible for our mental and physical adaptability. It is the energising force of the body and mind, and it governs our nervous system, our bones, and our senses of touch and hearing.

Autumn is the Vata season. Because, Vata comprises the elements of air and ether, it is the turn of those with a tendency towards Vata to be potentially aggravated by the seasonal shift. It’s worth noting here that you don’t have to have a predominantly Vata constitution to be affected. We will all have an element of Vata, and some of us will have a tendency for this to be aggravated (like Pitta and Kapha) from time to time depending on how we are living our lives.

If you have a predominantly Vata constitution, the qualities of Vata (dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile and clear) will be expressed in your body and mind.

The functions of Vata include conception, implantation, growth of foetus, inhalation and exhalation, creation of the seven tissues known as dhatus, hearing, touch, stimulation of digestive fire and control of mental activities.

If you have a Vata constitution then you probably have a long and lanky skeletal frame. Your musculature is naturally wiry, and if anything, you may tend to be underweight. Your facial features are generally chiselled and angular with eyes that are smaller in size. 

Your skin probably tends to be darker in tone (though it may be relatively transparent), thin, and dry rather than oily. Your hair is likely quite dry and may also be frizzy, darker in colour, or tightly curled.

You are quite frequently cold, with hands and feet that are consistently icy to the touch, and you likely adore the sun struggling with cold, dry, or windy weather. 

You are generally quick-minded, creative, full of new ideas,  intuitive, and mentally flexibility, though you can also be rather delicate and emotionally or energetically sensitive.

You may also struggle with a tendency toward anxiety and overwhelm, which is almost certainly eased when you create a sense of routine in your life, though you undoubtedly resist doing so – you love movement and travel. You likely make money quickly, but are equally quick to spend it.

Your friends would probably describe you as fun-loving, happy, and enthusiastic (if a bit impulsive) and it brings you great joy to bring these qualities into the lives of others.

You may have irregular appetite (you may forget to eat, or eat sparingly), and experience food sensitivities. You may suffer constipation.

You have a lot of energy, but your stamina is limited, so you may often find yourself overcommitted or overextended. You probably sleep fewer hours than most, six or seven, but your body may require more rest. You are a light sleeper and you may sometimes struggle with insomnia. You are definitely a morning person.

Generally, the sites of Vata are in the colon, hips, ears, bones and skin. The primary seat is the colon.

Vata in balance

• Long and lanky skeletal frame, or very short, thin and bony with narrow shoulders and hips, and prominent joints

• Your musculature is naturally wiry, and if anything, you may tend to be underweight.

• Facial features are chiselled and angular with eyes that are smaller in size. 

• Skin probably tends to be darker in tone (though it may be relatively transparent), thin, and dry rather than oily.

• Hair is likely quite dry and may also be frizzy, darker in colour, or tightly curled.

• Poor circulation and frequently cold, with hands and feet that are consistently icy to the touch

• Quick-minded, creative, full of new ideas, and highly capable of holding a big vision.

• Intuitive, and tend to be admired for your degree of mental flexibility

• Delicate and emotionally or energetically sensitive

• Tendency toward anxiety, nervousness  and overwhelm

• Sociable, fun-loving, happy, and enthusiastic (if a bit impulsive)

• Irregular appetite and food sensitivities, can suffer constipation

• A lot of energy but stamina is limited

• Tendency to light sleeping and insomnia and dreams about movement

• Intolerance to pain

• Forgetful and disorganised

Causes of Vata imbalance

• Habitual use of drugs having identical properties to Vata dosha such as dry, cold, light or rough

• Inadequate amounts of food; fasting, excessive weight loss

• Excessive exercise

• Inadequate sleep; not sleeping at night and sleeping during the day

• Incorrect habits such as improper eating and sleeping times

• Excessive talking and laughing and keeping bad company

• Blood letting

• Prolonged exposure to loud music or loud sounds

• Suppressions of natural urges such as hunger, thirst, urination, elimination, yawning, burping, flatulence, accidents etc

• Horse riding

• Excessive fast travel

• Excessive meditation; isolation

• Exposure to cold and windy conditions

• Excessive thinking; excessive sadness

• Excessive concentration

• Excessive exposure to electronic media

 Imbalance may manifest as

• Hyperactivity

• Involuntary body tremors, cramps, palpitations and muscle movements such as twitching

• Dryness of skin, hair, ears, lips and joints

• `Anxiety

• `insomnia

• Dryness internally, bloating, gas, constipation, dehydration

• Chills, poor circulation

• Excessive talking; talking too fast

• Feeling suffocated

• Tinnitus

• Bloating; fluid retention

• Miscarriage; infertility; light periods or loss of periods

• Lack of sperm

• Dry and lightness of mind, restlessness, dizziness, feeling ungrounded

• Runny nose

• Stomach noises; difficulty in swallowing; dryness of throat.

Lifestyle changes to balance Vata

·      Comfortable activities such as singing, listening to music, spending time with children, non-competitive activities;

·      Application and massage of the body using warm oils to help ground

·      If anxiety/insomnia is an issue, massaging warm oil into the scalp and wrapping a warm towel around the head for a period of time before washing hair

·      Lying in a warm salted bath

·      Vedic chanting

·      Lying down—either on a firm floor or (when weather permits) outside, directly on the earth.

·      Placing the feet purposefully on the floor (or ground, when outdoors) and directing your full attention toward the connection between the feet and the earth.

·      Exercising outdoors and in nature, and specifically inviting your senses to fully receive the natural world around you.

·      Always practicing yoga barefooted.

·      Yoga Nidra

·      Staying away from screens, or having screen downtimes

·      Breathing exercises to ground and slow down.

·      Hugging trees and gardening, being close to the Earth

Dietary changes

Enjoy

·      Sweet, sour and salty foods.;

·      Hot soups & stews; hot fluids that are not cooler than room temperature;

·      Mashed potato;

·      Warm spices like ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, etc;

·      Many fruits are classified as either sweet or sour depending on how ripe the fruit is and the variety. Stick to ripe, in-season fruits and eat them separately in moderation. Stewing or baking fresh fruits or soaking dried fruits in warm water are best;

·      All cooked vegetables, especially colourful root vegetables, well-cooked onions and garlic and leafy greens prepared with spicy herbs and lashings of good quality fats and oils;

·      Basmati rice, brown rice, cooked oats, pastas and couscous – especially taken as soupy casseroles or stews;

·      Consume legumes in moderation. Green mung dahl is best. Pre-soak, cook well with lots of warming spices such as ginger and garlic and consume with warm broths;

·      Eat almost any nut in moderation – consume raw. Soak in warm water to remove skins when possible. Oily whole nut spreads are also very nutritious;

·      Full-fat unprocessed dairy taken warm when possible. Yoghurt, buttermilk and cheese in moderation;

·      Consume plenty of high quality fats including ghee, butter, almond and sesame oil;

·      Meat can be harsh on the digestive system. When in need of a protein hit favour high-quality sustainably sourced animal products such as organic egg whites, free-range chicken and salmon;

·      Take warm water and plenty of sweet, warming or spicy herbal teas, almond milk – especially homemade almond milk – is a beautiful source of protein;

·      Natural sugars consumed meals are an excellent way to build tissues and maintain fluid balance – just try to minimise honey (constipating) and avoid white sugar.

Avoid

·      Cold and carbonated drinks;

·      Raw or uncooked fruits & vegetables;

·      Frozen foods and drinks;

·      Leftovers from the refrigerator;

·      Avoid astringent, bitter-tasting fruits such as cranberries or unripe fruit;

·      Minimise dried cereals, corn, millet, crackers, popcorn and rice cakes;

·      Avoid gas-forming legumes such as black beans, chickpeas, red and brown lentils, soy beans and split peas;

·      Avoid soy milk and ice cream or cold milk which are harder to digest;

·      Keep margarine, corn, mustard and vegetable oils to a minimum;

·      Minimise caffeine, cold water and spirits;

·      Go easy on the nuts and seeds.

Medicines

Please note that there are various medicines which can support doshic imbalance - but you are best to book for a consultation with a qualified practitioner to better understand what you individually and specifically need, rather than basing your assessment on what the internet says.

Love Emma