10 Ways to Balance Vata Dosha
Posted by Magali Lomeli on
Vata derangement is not only physical, but mental as well, and equally debilitating. The mind is our most powerful tool, it has the ability to alter our realities and make us believe them. Physiological disturbances occur often in vata types when the ether and air elements are too high.
Just as the wind can carry the other doshas out of their organs, it can carry the thoughts out of head and empty it. This creates too much ether in the mind, which leads to feelings of instability, lost, and confusion. Oftentimes, hallucinations and hearing voices is a manifestation of this emptiness.
Sometimes the mind causes the imbalance in the physical body, and sometimes the body leads to a mental imbalance. The two are undoubtedly connected. Correcting one will ease the correction of the other; the continued imbalance of one, will lead to the severe damage of the other. We are holistic beings and should treat our imbalances as such.
Learn about the warning signs so that you can connect deeper with your body and heal naturally. Become the truest master of your health.
10 PRACTICES TO KEEP
- Keep warm. Cover the ears with a headband when it is windy out.
- Massage the feet with warm sesame oil before bed. Use sesame oil in the ears when it's cold out.
- Eat foods that are opposite to vata’s qualities. Choose warm, heavy, moist, oily, stable, sweet, sour, and salty foods. Avoid/limit: beans, raw leafy greens, and cold food and drinks in general.
- Sweet potatoes, basmati rice, mung beans, avocados, carrots, pumpkin, red beats, cooked fruit, just to name a few.
- Choose grounding activities, like journaling, scrapbooking, or gardening where you can exercise your creativity, remain concentrated, and stay connected to earth.
- When doing yoga make sure to slow down and focus on the breath, this helps the scattered brain. Hatha and Yin yoga are great forms of movement for vata dosha.
- Avoid strenuous and excessive physical work.
- Drink hot or warm water. Especially during vata season which is fall, and throughout winter.
- Try to keep to a schedule. The mind will challenge you, but take ownership and silence it.
- Soak up the sun! Sometimes all that is needed are bear feet on the grass.