10 Ways to Calm & Balance Vata
AUTUMN & winter is when the air & space elements of VATA DOSHA dominate our environment.
It’s COOL, DRY & that wind is rattling & UNGROUNDING!
When VATA intelligence is balanced it gives us these beautiful life-giving qualities:
a clear alert mind
enthusiasm
liveliness
flexibility &
creativity
Too much lightness of AIR & SPACE and erratic Vata and we’re scattered in the mind, easily anxious & worried, upsets digestion, fatigued, can’t sleep well, become constipated, bloated or get gas.
SO WHAT CAUSES A VATA IMBALANCE?
Irregular routine; meals & sleep time
Cold dry weather, wind
Staying up late
Irregular meals, food on the go
Overactive restless mind & excessive mental work
Drying food & cold drinks
Travel - too mobile & irregular
Quite easily we can introduce a few things with the simple principle of OPPOSITES to balance.
Balance with WARMTH - REGULAR ROUTINE - GROUNDING -
- MOISTURE - LUBRICATION -
10 WAYS TO PACIFY VATA BACK INTO BALANCE
Calm & regulate with 10 BELLY BREATHS or slow steady UJJYAI breath, first on waking and during the day, say mid morning with a cuppa & after lunch.
When Vata is in EXCESS, favour more relaxed exercise that still moves your Prana & yet eases your mind, like yoga & light cardio.
OIL up with self massage - daily oil massage will help detoxify the channels, moisturise your skin. give suppleness to muscles and joints, balance hormones, revitalise you, even calm a busy mind. Use warming SESAME oil or Vata herbal oil (available at Ayu Ayurveda).
How to do an abhyanga SELF-MASSAGE on the blog here
Keep COZY - layer up to stay warm especially your neck & head. Don your fave beanie & scarf!
SIP on with warm DRINKS - not room temp water now it's the cool season. Hot water melts toxins…how amazing is that? Make up a classic Cumin Coriander Fennel Digestive tea to sip a few times a week. RECIPE: https://www.ayuayurveda.com/ccf-detox-tea-cumin-coriander...
Add lots of healthy fats to meals such as ghee or olive oil; meals slip down easily and moisturises all the tissues, brain. Coconut oil is too cooling now. If bowels are dry, not moving daily soak 6 prunes or 2-3 figs and eat daily.
Eat warm, grounding cooked meals; soups, grains & root vegetables.
SOUP RECIPE: https://www.ayuayurveda.com/carrot-ginger-fennel-soup
PUY LENTIL RICE RECIPE: https://ayuayurveda.squarespace.com/warming-lentil-and...
SPICE IT ALL UP with digestive spices. Cook with fresh ginger, black pepper, cumin, coriander, hing, ajwain, fenugreek and fennel.
Eat on SCHEDULE - yes it really matters to feeling better & having stronger DIGESTION & immunity having same meal times, biggest meal between 12-1pm & last meal by 6.30pm.
Replenish & heal with plenty of SLEEP. In bed by 10pm to max your zzzzzz. Boost sleep quality by dimming light, exposure to WIFI & blue light, an hour before bed.
ENJOY this invigorating season with many warm sunny days, welcoming in your favourite winter loves!!