Calming Vata: A Closer Look!
Why You Want To Calm The VATA Down
My Ayurvedic teachers all agree that high vata dosha is the number one health issue of our time. 20 or 30 years ago they said they saw equal numbers of vata, pitta, and kapha imbalance and they rarely saw the extreme derangement of vata that has become the new normal today. In other words, extreme vata disturbance is an epidemic of our times.
You are made of the five great elements, the same five great elements as every single thing in the world around us. These elements are earth, water, fire, air and ethers or space.
They come together in three groupings to form the three vital energies known as the doshas. We all have all three doshas and all five elements and the amount of each element will determine your physical and mental characteristics.
Vata dosha is made up of the ‘vayus’ or winds, air and ether which is why it is often called the wind dosha. It is cold, light, dry, subtle, airy, mobile, sharp, flowing, hard, rough and clear. The colours of vata are black and brown.
It lives in the colon, thighs, ears, bones and skin.
It governs the sensory organs, your mental state, your nervous system and your motor organs. Emotionally, it shows up as fear, delusion, desires, anxieties, fast-talking, impulsive and compulsive behaviours and mental health or illness.
Vata creates the spaces in your body needed for things to move around. It is also responsible for moving things around in the spaces. There is no movement of breath, blood, lymph, fluids, nervous impulses, hormones, food, or waste without the energy of vata.
Vata controls:
the heartbeat
respiration
autonomic muscle contractions
movement
coordination
circulation
digestion
waste removal
It moves from the gut to the skin and from the skin to the gut, moving things from outside in and inside out.
Without vata, there is no life, because without breath there is no life. Without movement, there is no life.
So there must be enough space, but not too much and enough movement, but not too much. When things get too cold, light, dry, airy, sharp, fast-moving, hard, rough or clear, vata rises to the occasion and gets way out of control.
High Vata
Characteristics of a person with a lot of vata include:
Mentally enthusiastic, creative, quick-witted, flighty, fast thinkers, anxious, sensitive, compulsive, impulsive, spiritual, vibrant, friendly, and outgoing but can also be introverted when overwhelmed or worried about what people think of them, spontaneous, they love languages.
Vata people love music, dance, sensual experiences, beauty, textiles, relaxing experiences
Physically they are normally very small or very tall people. Traditionally, vata people have been described as thin, but this is not always the norm anymore. They may be very overweight, especially if they suffer from eating problems or addictions but underneath any layers of extra padding they may or may not have, their stature is rather delicate and willowy. They have thin, transparent and dry skin which tans easily and shows signs of early aging. Their hair is dry, curly or fuzzy and they often have tooth irregularities. Their small eyes dart around and have a needy or fearful look about them.
Not only does Vata have its own jobs to do, but the other two doshas also depend on it for any movement. So if Vata is high, it will fan the flames of pitta causing it to go out of balance. It is also responsible for homeostasis in every tissue and organ. If vata is out of balance, you are out of balance.
Things That Drive Vata Crazy
Excessive screen time or time with electronics
Dehydration
Artificial Light
Light, dry foods
Hot Yoga and being too hot in general
Multi-tasking, rushing, or unrealistic to-do lists
Chaotic scheduling
Too much of anything especially when you don’t leave yourself enough time
Too much talking
Not having a routine and having an erratic schedule
Exposure to wind, cold, dry climate
Sleep problems
Foods that are astringent, bitter, spicy
Caffeine
Drugs and stimulants
Overeating— You can be overweight and be a vata type- many vata people are overweight, especially if the excess weight lives on your thighs and hips
Because vata is responsible for the regulation of our adrenal glands, if your vata is out of control, you may well be suffering from the very prevalent signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue. This is what often drives people with high vata to seek help from an Ayurvedic practitioner.
People with adrenal fatigue present with one or more of the following problems:
blood pressure problems
cravings for sweet or salty
fluctuations with weight and dieting
lack of energy
hyperactivity
mood swings, anxiety, depression, brain fog, lack of concentration
low immunity
sexual problems
women’s hormonal problems
How To Calm The VATA
Vata derangement is caused by the crazy way we live and the pace of life nowadays. Stress and sleep problems are epidemic as are working too much and sitting in front of a screen of one kind or another from morning to night. We are over-extended, underfunded, malnourished but with too much food, have erratic schedules and live as though life is a crisis.
Drugs, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, fast food, and alcohol are too easy to access and often even culturally expected. This is exhausting and it turns vata into a runaway train with no brakes.
Calming The Internal Winds
Thankfully, Ayurveda offers some straightforward ways to restore the body’s homeostasis and give yourself a fresh start. You can learn to trust yourself, no matter how bad your habits are and learn how to make changes that last.
This is not a quick fix. This means addressing the root cause of the problems to give you the best chance to be in sparkling health.
To pacify vata you need to shower yourself with things that are opposite in nature to the qualities of vata- remember they were: cold, light, dry, subtle, airy, mobile, sharp, flowing, hard, rough and clear.
In addition, if you feel bone tired, depleted and deeply exhausted, you need to nourish and rejuvenate yourself with how you live. You need food and lifestyle choices that are grounding, nourishing, slow, soft, and regular. You need to know you can depend on yourself to love and care for yourself like a good parent would.
Ayurveda offers you every solution to support this process. And because it is totally individual, you get to choose the solutions that will be best for you.
How To Slow Down
Self-massage (abhyanga) to calm down the nervous system, lubricate dry skin and help you make friends with your body.
How to remove stresses that you can control
Stop with the endless to-do lists already, permit yourself to rest. A lot. For a long time.
Developing a regular eating and sleeping schedule
Spending time in nature
How to learn the art of moderation
The importance of warm showers and baths no matter how many of your friends are jumping in icy waters!
Reducing or removing any stimulants and substances that turn you into a nervous wreck
Learning to say no and focus on things that will have you living a life aligned
Breathing exercises (pranayama) that are right for you
Sitting in silence or meditation - taking time to explore the riches of your inner world. Learn to quiet the mind and still the incessant thoughts.
Making time for the things that make you happy
Yoga
Detoxing your environment
Drink calming drinks and tea
Take Ayurvedic herbs that will support and nourish your nervous system
Eat actual real food that is good for you, leaves you totally satisfied on every level and tastes amazing
Are You Ready To Commit To Self Care?
Ayurvedic Breakthrough Support
If you are ready to prioritize yourself, I’d love to work with you. It’s not an easy journey, nor is it a quick fix. But if you want to turn a new leaf and start fresh in life, no matter how old you are, then I’m your girl. You know you best, your body is your teacher if you listen and I’d love to be your guide to self-control and excellent self-care. If I can do it, so can you.
If this resonates with you, then click the link below and let’s talk about options to get you in the best health that you can be in so you can live a happy, fulfilling, and purposeful life as you deserve.
