Ritual Balancing for Vata
What is Vata. The word vata means to blow or move like the wind. Consisting of the elements air and ether, it is the principle force of motion in the body and mind.
When vata is healthy, the movements of the body are graceful, unimpeded, and yet controlled. When out of balance it calles Vata Dosha, the movements become erratic, excessive, decreased, or blocked.
Qualities of Vata:
Cold ,Light, Dry, Irregular, Rough, Moving Quick, Changeable
If Vata dosha predominates, movement and change are characteristic of your nature. You tend to always be on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. As long as Vata is in balance, you will be lively and enthusiastic, with a lean body.
While our society encourages rushing and multitasking, Vatas are particularly vulnerable to becoming imbalanced and ill when they don’t have a daily routine that includes regular periods of both rest and activity. When you accumulate too much of the Vata elements of space and wind, this imbalance can manifest as illness, including anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, and digestive disorders. However, by creating a nurturing daily routine, you can restore and maintain balance and radiant health.
A balanced Vata feel
Happy
Enthusiastic
Energetic
Flexible
Creative
Adaptable
Open
Spontaneous
Motivated
Intelligent
Vibrant
Vivacious
Sensitive
Resilient
Exhilarated
An out-of-balance Vata feels
Anxious
Restless
Depressed
Overwhelmed
Indecisive
Unfocused
Impatient
Impulsive
Inattentive
Self-critical
Exhausted
Balancing Vata With Rhythm and Regularity
Vatas love excitement and variety, but can quickly become overstimulated and frazzled. Instead of eating, sleeping, and exercising regularly, out-of-balance Vatas eat on the run, skip meals, exercise in fits and starts, and go to bed at odd hours. The remedy is to cultivate balanced habits, paying a little more attention to rhythm and regularity each day. Here are a few pointers that will help you balance Vata.
Get plenty of rest.
Abundant restful sleep is particularly important for Vata types. It’s important to go to bed and get up at about the same time every day. This regularity in your sleep routine helps you fall asleep—and stay asleep—allowing you to get the ample rest you need. When you feel you’re pushing yourself too hard or overdoing any activity, whether physical or mental, stop and rest for five minutes.
The best rest,
aside from sleep, is the deep relaxation provided by meditation. When you meditate, your heart rate and breathing slow as your body engages its natural self-repair mechanisms. The dosha that benefits the most from meditation is Vata. After spending just a few minutes in inner quiet, Vata emerges feeling thoroughly settled and refreshed.
Start your day with a self-massage.
In the morning, massage your body with warm sesame oil or another Vata-balancing oil. In Ayurveda, this healing touch practice is known as a self-Abhyanga. It is particularly balancing for Vatas, who tend to be dry and cold.
Eat Vata-balancing meals on a predictable schedule.
Even though the Vata appetite is variable, it is important for you to eat nourishing meals at regular intervals. The Vata dosha is aggravated by an empty stomach, and Vata types tend to quickly become imbalanced, exhausted, or under-nourished if they don’t sit down to three meals a day. Make sure that you include a warm, nourishing breakfast with substantial foods. Taking a little fresh ginger helps stimulate the appetite before a meal and aids digestion.
Drink lots of warm fluids throughout the day.
Since Vata has a tendency to be dry and become dehydrated, create a routine of enjoying warm beverages throughout the day. Try warm water with lemon and honey or fresh gingerroot tea. Prepare the tea by placing a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger in a pint thermos bottle and filling it with hot water. You may also enjoy a cup of warm milk with a sprinkle of cardamom or nutmeg before bedtime.
Tip: Don’t consume caffeine or alcohol when you’re trying to balance Vata, which is only aggravated by stimulants.
Put your attention on love.
When Vata is out of balance, you may feel overwhelmed with fear and worry. Instead of trying to fight these feelings, focus your attention on love and compassion. What fills your heart with feelings of love? It may be as simple as spending a few minutes playing with your dog or cat, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of a flowering tree, or writing a note of gratitude to a friend. Create a list of simple love practices and pick a time to enjoy at least one a day. If you find yourself feeling anxious, put your hand on your heart and breathe deeply for a minute as you consider what you’re grateful for.
Ayurveda prescribes a complete daily routine that balances all of the doshas. However, in modern society many people would struggle to find the time to complete all of the steps of the traditional routine. For this reason, we’re offering you a simpler, more doable daily routine tailored to the specific needs of the Vata dosha.
Morning
*Wake up at the same time every day. This will help you develop a good routine and ensure you get abundant, restful sleep. This is vital for Vatas, who tend to push themselves to the point of physical or mental exhaustion.
*When you get up, drink a glass of warm water. This signals your physiology to eliminate toxins.
*Meditate for 10 minutes, or longer if you can, letting the inner quiet set the tone for your day. Set an intention, something simple such as, “Today I feel centered and joyful in everything I do.”
*Massage your body with a nourishing, warming oil such as sesame or almond. You may also want to gently rub a drop of sesame oil inside your nasal passages, which have a tendency to become dry in Vata types.
*Bathe.
Wear clothing made with soft fabrics in earth tones and mild pastel shades, which calm Vata types.
*Practice a Vata-balancing yoga sequence (this takes less than 10 minutes).
Eat a healthy breakfast with awareness.
Perform your morning work and activity. Focus on one thing at a time. The brain can’t actually multitask, so trying to type an email while answering a call and planning a trip will only create Vata imbalances in your mind-body system.
Throughout the day, drink lots of warm liquids such as hot water and herbal teas to prevent dehydration. You can prepare a fresh ginger tea by placing a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger into a pint thermos bottle and filling it with hot water.
Mid-Day
*Eat lunch between noon and 1 p.m. in a calm, peaceful environment. In Ayurveda, lunch is the largest meal of the day because your digestive fire is strongest at this time. Eat foods that are warming, fresh, and well cooked; avoid dry or uncooked foods, especially salads and raw fruits and vegetables.
*Sit quietly for five minutes after eating.
*Walk for 5 to 15 minutes to aid digestion.
*Perform your afternoon work and activity.
*If you like, take a short nap sometime between 2 and 4 p.m.
*Remember to stay warm. Vata is a cold, dry dosha, so it’s important to make sure your home and work place are well heated and that the air has enough humidity. Since Vata is extremely sensitive to moving air, it’s wise to avoid drafts or sitting near fans or ventilators.
*Meditate around sunset.
Evening
*Give yourself time to wind down before dinner. You may want to get some light exercise or spend a little time outside in nature.
*Eat a light dinner by 7 p.m. Enjoy some time with friends or family in a relaxed, loving setting.
*Sit quietly for five minutes after eating.
*Walk for 5 to 15 minutes to aid digestion.
Bedtime
*Avoid overly exciting, dynamic, or intensely concentrated work in the evening. *Begin winding down for sleep at least 30 minutes before you intend to go to bed. *Enjoy some inspirational or light reading.
*Enjoy a relaxing, warm bath before bed; add a few drops of aromatic oil such as vanilla, lavender, sandalwood, or rose to the water.
*Aim to be in bed with the lights off by 10:30 p.m.
*Commit to following an ideal daily routine for one week. Without being overly compulsive, try following a program that aligns your daily rhythms with those of nature.
As you create rhythms and regularity that nourish your mind, body, and spirit, you will find yourself feeling more energized, balanced, and healthy.
Source :
https://chopra.com/
Link for Dosha quiz https://shop.chopra.com/dosha-quiz?_ga=2.261067534.2098409501.1515120565-1543908086.1514875349&sso_code=eyJpdiI6IkM5RHJ2ZE1SUzViS2VTXC9lT2RxdDZnPT0iLCJ2YWx1ZSI6Img5aWJ3ZzNpWTMzZldrZm9yVDJwZHBxYnE1SWZJaUhLbWdmQ1E2N0FqTVwvcW1QbnVreGNzanVRTFNpeXlTSGU5TEVGdWd6ZTNvV3JRNW1wMm1rQWNuYklvSzVpQzIyRGh2R1h2NjJHQmYxST0iLCJtYWMiOiIwOTFhMjlhM2RhZjg2ZWE5Yzk1MmUzY2MzMDQxZjk1MzBjNDUzZjE0NTJkYzQ2YjY5NWEyMDc5MjE3MTNlZjFjIn0%3D
