| The art & science of Ayurveda (a close cousin to | | | | humidifier!). |
| Yoga) perceives, maps & speaks of the human | | | | (4) Wearing clothing that is either warm (e.g. red, |
| body in terms of the three Doshas ~ Vata, Pitta and | | | | orange, yellow) or calming (e.g. green) in color. |
| Kapha ~ each of which governs a different aspect of | | | | (5) Choosing for leisure calming activities such as |
| our lived experience. Though all three Doshas operate | | | | walks in nature or parks (see my previous post on |
| within every (living) person, each of us manifests a | | | | "Walking Meditation"!) |
| unique (and ever-changing) combination of their | | | | (6) Treating yourself to a warm oil massage ... the |
| attributes. The predominant pattern of this combination | | | | really yummy thing which will now be described in a bit |
| within us gives rise to what is known as our Tri-Dosha | | | | more detail ... |
| "type," or "constitution." | | | | A delightful way of calming an out-of-balance Vata is |
| The Vata Dosha, which will be the focus of this article, | | | | to give yourself a warm-oil massage. The oil that is |
| corresponds to the elements space and air. As such, it | | | | best to use for Vata imbalance is sesame oil (organic |
| governs all movement in our human physiology, from | | | | un-roasted cold-pressed is the very best). So buy |
| the subtle, fleeting movement of thoughts across the | | | | yourself some oil; warm up about 1/3rd cup or so (in a |
| screen of our mind, to the coursing of blood through | | | | small pan on your stove, medium heat); turn up the |
| our arteries and veins, to the movements of our limbs | | | | heat in your house; spread a large towel or a sheet on |
| and pranic body in a yoga asana practice. The Vata | | | | the floor; and then ~ from head to foot (including your |
| Dosha can be, within this system, divided further into | | | | hair and scalp!) ~ work the warm oil into your skin, |
| five sub-doshas, each of which represents the | | | | using circular massage-strokes. When you've finished, |
| functioning of Vata in a specific part of the body. | | | | cover up so that you stay really warm, and let the oil |
| These sub-categories (which correspond to Yogic | | | | soak into your skin for a half-hour at least. After |
| divisions of Prana) are: prana, udana, vyana, samana | | | | you've relaxed like this for a half-hour or hour, then |
| & apana. | | | | take a warm shower, washing off any excess oil |
| When Vata is in balance, we are alert and | | | | (which hasn't by this time been absorbed into your |
| spontaneous in our mental, emotional & physical | | | | skin). Apply a light moisturizing lotion after the shower |
| movements. Our intelligence is active in a relaxed and | | | | (to "seal" the oil that's already there) ... and notice how |
| fluid way. We are spacious without being "spaced out." | | | | you feel! |
| When Vata is out of balance, we manifest symptoms | | | | If you do this weekly or even daily, when you're |
| such as: worry, stress, anxiety, fatigue, an over-active | | | | experiencing Vata-imbalance symptoms, you'll very |
| mind, restlessness, agitation, difficulty sleeping and | | | | likely notice a shift ... notice the balanced-Vata qualities |
| mood swings. There are also physical symptoms of | | | | of relaxed alertness and joyful spontaneity emerging |
| out-of-balance Vata, such as dry skin or constipation ... | | | | once again. |
| though my focus here is more on the emotional/mental | | | | Enjoy! |
| aspects. [Just an aside: these are symptoms which | | | | And to end (this article, and begin the rest of your day), |
| are often given, within western medicine, the diagnosis | | | | what feels to me to be a very "Vata" poem (you can |
| of ADD or ADHD ... hmmm ...] | | | | decide if it's balanced or imbalanced!) by the great |
| So how do we bring an out-of-balance Vata back into | | | | Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (from his Gitanjali): |
| balance? Ayurvedic suggestions for doing this include: | | | | I am like a remnant of a cloud of autumn uselessly |
| (1) Maintaining a regular daily routine with respect to | | | | roaming in the sky, O my sun ever-glorious! Thy touch |
| meal-times, exercise & relaxation, and sleeping | | | | has not yet melted my vapour, making me one with |
| times. Early to bed & early to rise tends to be | | | | thy light, and thus I count months and years separated |
| best for Vata ... and if you're having trouble sleeping, try | | | | from thee. |
| drinking a cup of warm milk with a pinch of ground | | | | If this be thy wish and if this be thy play, than take this |
| nutmeg, right before bed. | | | | fleeting emptiness of mine, paint it with colours, gild it |
| (2) Eating warm cooked meals (as opposed to cold or | | | | with gold, float it on the wanton wind and spread it in |
| raw foods) which include oils (e.g. ghee or sesame or | | | | varied wonders. |
| sunflower oil) and/or oily foods (e.g. nuts, seeds, olives, | | | | And again when it shall be thy wish to end this play at |
| avocados). | | | | night, I shall melt and vanish away in the dark, or it may |
| (3) Living in a warm moist climate with lots of fresh air | | | | be in a smile of the white morning, in a coolness of |
| and sunshine (e.g. Hawaii ... or at the least, buy a | | | | purity transparent. |