If you have some vata – air and ether in your constitution then the information presented in this article will be extremely beneficial in helping you to maintain balance.
Due to your lifestyle, eating habits and external environments vata dosha is often accumulated in excess which can be detrimental to your health and wellness.
In fact, vata is the most easily aggravated dosha in people and therefore it is often the dosha that needs to be treated first.
Balancing vata requires changing specific habits that tend to increase vata. Therefore, measures need to be taken so you can reduce vata and enhance your health.
Before you take the appropriate action to reduce the amount of vata within you, you should first know and understand the main causes of high Vata.
Causes of high Vata In Ayureda
Exposure to cold, dry and windy weather. Even air conditioning can increase Vata.
Eating a diet consisting of cold foods including cold beverages and refrigerated foods.
Eating too many raw foods such as salads which are light and often dry.
Eating too many rough and dry foods such as bread, crackers and grains (wheat, barley, millet or corn). Eating too many refined and packaged foods which are also light and dry.
Eating irregularly at various time throughout the day.
Exercising too excessively – especially any aerobic activity.
Lack of sleep and rest.
Symptoms of high Vata
Feeling cold and a desire for warm clothes and environments.
A desire for warm food.
Constipation and or gas.
A lack of energy – always feeling fatigued.
Insomnia – not being able to sleep properly.
Psychological symptoms including anxiety, fear, confusion and insecurity.
Twitching and aimless talking.
Can’t sit still or stay in one place for too long
How to balance Vata Dosha in Ayurveda
Reducing Vata mainly involves adopting a Vata diet and eating the right foods for Vata constitution.
Reducing Vata also requires patience, dedication, commitment and consistency over a period of time for treatment to be effective.
The main actions for decreasing high Vata require doing the opposite of what cause high Vata – mentioned above. This includes decreasing qualities of cold, dry, rough and light; and adding more warm, moist, smooth and heavy qualities.
As far as your diet is concerned, you would have to eliminate dry foods such as refined foods and incorporate more wet warming foods such as soups and dhals in line with the Vata diet.
To balance Vata dosha you need to eat more foods that are moist, grounding, warming, smooth, oily and stabilizing.
Vata type people tend due to do too many things and scatter their energy. They like to multi-task, take on too many projects and often can’t stay still. This will certainly lead to an excess of Vata –creating a Vata provoked state.
A Vata aggravated or provoked state can lead to exhaustion of the nervous system, which in turn causes physical, emotional and mental stress – and eventually causing “dis-ease.”
While a routine can feel contrary to your nature, it can be very helpful for you to incorporate one into your life.
For example, rising and going to bed at about the same time every day, eating at the same time and giving regular time for your meditation, yoga and other exercises which are extremely beneficial for Vata.
Practicing ayurvedic yoga therapy and registering in various ayurveda courses & trainings can also be very beneficial in finding complete balance.