Vata Dosha, Explained

What is vata dosha?

In Ayurvedic terms, vata dosha is composed of two elements: space (ether) and air. When you think about it this way, you can see how these elements govern movement in general. Air moves through space. Imagine yourself lying on your back and getting a massage—you can feel the energy moving through your body as it flows back and forth between your muscles and joints in an effortless rhythm. You might also notice that even though there are different parts of your body being touched at any given moment during a massage, you can still perceive the presence of movement throughout your entire body as one whole system because everything flows together so smoothly—this kind of smoothness is characteristic of vata dosha at its best!

Vata qualities

Vata is known as the dosha of movement, and is characterized by the qualities of dry, rough, cold, light, subtle, mobile, and clear. It’s made up of both air and space elements which makes it quick-moving (air) and expansive (space). Vata governs all movement in the body from muscle contractions to cell division to circulation. The nervous system also falls under vata’s domain.

When balanced: When this energy is in balance you feel energized but not frazzled or overstimulated; communication with others flows easily without feeling overwhelming; sleep cycles are regular and easy to maintain. Creativity is also a direct manifestation of vata energy so when balanced you feel inspired and creative juices flow freely.

Your vata dosha imbalance may be caused by...

You may have a vata imbalance because of:

• stress
• your diet
• not enough exercise
• sleep patterns that aren't regular, or sleep deprivation
• lifestyle choices

Vata diet tips

To keep your body and mind balanced, you want to be sure to eat three meals a day. While it can be tempting to skip breakfast or lunch, you'll find yourself feeling sleepier and more scattered if you do so. Be sure that your meals include some combination of protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates—this will give you steady energy throughout the day. Also make sure that every meal is balanced with sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and astringent flavors.

In addition to following Vata-balancing foods tips above (cooking with spices like ginger and cinnamon) it's important to also avoid foods that agitate Vata dosha: coffee and alcohol; refined flour products like breads and pastas; raw vegetables like salads; dried fruits; processed foods in general; anything cold or frozen (ice cream); leftovers; foods with very hot spices like cayenne pepper.

Vata exercise tips

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Vata lifestyle tips

• Avoid extremes. Keep your mind and body in balance by avoiding extreme emotions, overexertion, or any other environment that might shock your system.
• Meditate. Meditation brings calmness to the mind. Clear your thoughts and relax deeper than you thought possible with daily meditation.
• Listen to music. Music has the power to affect our moods in a variety of ways—and listening to calming, peaceful melodies will ease anxiety, worry and stress.
• Practice yoga and breathing exercises daily. Yoga postures can reduce stress while breathing exercises help you relax into a calm state of being through focused awareness on the breath.
• Take hot baths before bedtime or at least right after coming home from work or a stressful situation so as not to carry over those feelings into your evening hours—which are meant for relaxation! Turn off the lights and immerse yourself in warm water by candlelight for 10 minutes or until you feel relaxed and restored (or sleepy). You can also add bath salts to further enhance the experience with aromatherapy oils that work magic on their own!

Avoiding extremes and choosing a healthy, balanced lifestyle can help prevent vata dosha.

As with any imbalance, the best way to prevent Vata Dosha is to avoid extremes and choose a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Here are a few tips for keeping your dosha in check:

• Eat regular meals. Your body needs balance, so don't skip breakfast or lunch and then try to make up for it with an enormous dinner.
• Practice yoga and meditation. Focusing on deep breathing can help you stay grounded during times of change, which will keep you from becoming overly anxious.
• Try not to over-think things. If you find yourself obsessing about something that happened yesterday (or years ago), take some time away from it and focus on the present moment instead. Have a conversation with someone or play some music—anything to bring yourself back into the here and now.
• Keep a regular sleep schedule. Sleep deprivation can make vatas more scattered, so get your full eight hours every night if possible! If not possible keep up good habits like waking up early or going straight home after work so that when Friday rolls around you'll still be able to enjoy yourself without feeling worn out by Saturday morning's brunch plans (or whatever).

Want to know your Ayurvedic body type? Take our 50 question Dosha quiz! 

KÖPPEN Ayurveda - The Dosha Quiz