Vata Dosha: Yoga and Ayurveda for Autumn and into early Winter

Vata dosha is the dominant energy during autumn and into early winter. Vata dosha is comprised of the elements of air and aether and is the energy of movement. Think of those dry, cold, blustry autumn days. Leaves crunch underfoot. Trees begin to draw their sap in and downward. In our bodies we may experience more dry skin and lips, cracking joints, constipation, gas, insomnia. We begin to look a bit more pale in our face as our blood draws closer in towards our vital organs. And mentally we may feel a bit more unsettled, restless, anxious, hard to focus and busy thoughts. Some will feel this more than others, especially those who naturally have a higher constitution of vata in their own personal dosha. If you feel some vata imbalances coming on, not to worry as there are things you can do to balance it out.

In Ayurveda, like increases like and opposites balance. We want to balance the cool, dry nature of vata with warmth and grounding. In foods we want to add good oils such as olive oil and ghee, and even apply warm oils to our skin in a lovely practice called abhyanga.

How to balance with food and lifestyle changes

• Establish a regular routine throughout your day. Go to bed and get up at the same times. Eat your meals at the same times of day.

• Speaking of food: eat warm stews, plenty of root veg and dark leafy greens such as kale; embrace the good fats such as ghee, olive oil, coconut oil; favour warm porridge over dry cereals, warm smoothies over cold ones, soups over cold salads, and for the love of Love DO NOT TRY TO GO ON A DIET THIS TIME OF YEAR!! Eat healty, eat well, but do not indulge, either. Balance.

• Dont burn yourself out at the gym or running or wherever you like to be active. Do not stop, but do not push if you don't feel you have it in you.

• Get outside. At least once a day get in the natural light for at least 20 mins.

• Take Vit D suppliments, especially up at this latittude.

• Try not to travel too much this time of year.

• Avoid drafts and make sure to keep your head and lower back insulated from the cold and the wind.

• Self-care rituals like bringing in warm oil massages to soothe dry skin (you can do this yourself or find an Ayurvedic Massage Therapist and look for Abhyanga.

Adapt your yoga practice for vata

• In your yoga practice, embrace grounding postures such as Warriors 1, 2 and 3 and forward folds (standing or seated).

  

• Focus on the earth beneath your feet to get a sense of grounding.

• Backbends on the belly such as Cobra or Bow pose help to bring heat to the spine and warm the lower back.

  

  
  

• Work into the hips to help relieve any build up of vata dosha.

• Pranayama practices help to keep the mind from whirling in all directions, bringing the mind to a central point of focus. Samavritti ( Box breath) is a great place to start...Inhale for a count of 4, hold the inhale for 4, exhale for the count of 4 and hold that out for the count of 4. Start with 3-5 rounds.

  
  

• Keep your movement soft, slow, and fluid. I like to imagine I'm moving through a warm pool of water.

• Take rest when you feel the need to! Try not to push through and avoid burnout!

Hopefully, with some little changes, this time of year won't be so unsettling. We are coming in to the time of year for rest and restoration, so remember to be kind to yourself  and give yourself time to slow down.