By Karie Wik, BA, LMBT

The Vata Dosha

Of the five natural elements described in ayurvedic science (air, earth, fire, space and earth,) air and space combine to create Vata. Those of us whose primary dosha is Vata have a small or slender body frame, thinner musculature with prominent joints, and dry, cool skin. Like the wind, vata types may also adapt easily to change; they are flexible, quick thinkers and responders. They are generally light-hearted, can be very funny and lively, making friends easily. Vata also controls imagination and creativity lending them a fluid and inspired communication style.

The shadow side of all Vata’s positive aspects is that all of this dosha's movement and quickness can become imbalanced quite easily. Qualities associated with imbalance are dry skin, and joints, brittle hair and nails and cold hands and feet. The internal physiology can be prone to digestive irregularity resulting in constipation, gas or bloating as well as muscle spasms, cramps or chills. Mental imbalance may lead to an inability to ground oneself, insomnia, anxiety and lack of attention or focus.


Vata - Importance of a Daily Routine

Vata is balanced by routine. Some of the best ways to create a vata-balancing routine this fall are as follows:

*Wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day
*Drink warm tea, avoid stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine
*Stay warm by dressing appropriately in layers as the wind kicks up and the temperature drops

During the change in seasons detoxifying the body is essential for good health, and a hot oil massage treatment will warm you up, lubricate the skin and hair, while calming the central nervous system – Some choices for treatments include:

*Abhyanga enhances immunity, increases circulation and creates deep relaxation in body and mind
*Shirodhara calms the central nervous system and integrates the mind and body
*Marma Therapy promotes subtle energy cleansing and rebalancing by stimulating the marmas, dissolving blocks due to stress and improper diet
*Practice Gentle Yoga daily – even for 10-15 minutes each morning, a gentle yoga practice will help you ground and center yourself for a more productive day
*Prepare yourself for bed with soothing music, rather than crime-scene dramas on TV, and warm milk or herbal tea rather than beer or wine – all the excitement of the day can make it difficult to wind down and relax for bedtime

Vata Food Choices

Foods that please the vata dosha are sweet and warm, moist and lubricating. Whether your primary dosha is vata, or you are feeling the effects of an increase in vata in the cool, dry months of October and November, experimenting with a vata-pacifying diet can be helpful and comforting.

To aid in lubricating the gastrointestinal tract:

*Warm vegetable casseroles cooked with high quality oil - olive and sesame are great but for vata-types most oils work just fine - see the directions for making ghee, a clarified butter to cook with or add to many foods
*Light vegetables soups are great for rainy or cooler weather days - vata, being air, benefits when gas-producing vegetables and legumes are omitted from the recipe, so think about leaving out the black beans, chick peas - and avoiding raw cabbage, broccoli and any bitter greens
*Avoid dried fruit, raw veggies and hard to digest raw fruits (like apples) and all bitter greens
*When in doubt, seasonal produce cooked slowly until it is warm, soft and easy to digest usually does little harm, and for true vata types adding oil to foods is always recommended

Ghee Recipe

1 pound of organic unsalted butter

Heat the butter in a saucepan until it starts to boil, and then turn the heat down to medium heat and simmer. Do not stir, heat the butter watching to make sure it does not get hot enough to burn or boil. It will froth up on the top, and eventually be reabsorbed leaving a clear mixture with a deep golden-yellow color. Milk solids will settle at the bottom of the pan and turn brown. Leave on a simmer for about 15 minutes to up to an hour. Pour the liquid into a clean dry glass jar through a strainer lined with cheesecloth to catch any residue at the pot's bottom.

Once the mixture cools, the butter will solidify, does not require refrigeration, and will keep in a tightly covered jar for 2-3 months.


For further reading, references for this month's subject included:

Chopra, Deepak. Perfect Health. Three Rivers Press, 2000.
Frawley, David. Yoga & Ayurveda. Lotus Press, 1999.
Krishan, Shubhra essential ayurveda. New World Library, 2003.