Ayurveda is beginning to blossom in the West because of its practical approach to self care. At it's foundation, Ayurveda is logical, accessible and truly holistic. With a few basic concepts we are able to maintain and restore balance physically, mentally and emotionally.
In the ancient Ayurvedic texts we are reminded that 'like increases like and opposites balance.'
This is such an exquisitely simple tool for understanding how to cultivate harmony in our lives.
Vata is responsible for all movement in the body. This includes breathing, sensory functions, elimination and all motor skills. In the mind it governs creativity, clarity of thought, flexibility, feelings of joy and enthusiasm. When out of balance Vata manifests as fear, anxiety, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, insomnia, absent mindedness ('air- head') and an intolerance to cold.
General Guidelines for Balancing Vata:
* Follow a regular daily routine
*Keep calm, meditate, listen to calming music, breathe, relax
*Keep warm, avoid extreme cold. Take warm showers and baths
*Do gentle exercises like yoga, tai chi, take walks, swim
*Massage the body daily with warm sesame oil
*Go to bed early, rest when tired, take naps
*Follow creative and artistic passions
Diet:
Foods that are in season such as root vegetables and winter squash will help nourish and balance the body. Try carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, acorn, butternut, delicata and buttercup squashes. These have the qualities of sweet, heavy, smooth, dense and moist and are most balancing for vata. Casseroles, soups and stews are easily digested and can be very nourishing for vata, warming the body from the inside out.
*Eat warm, nourishing, fresh cooked foods and warming spices
*Favor foods with sweet, sour and salty tastes.
*Limit foods with bitter, pungent and astringent tastes
*Eat warming spices like ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, and cinnamon
*Incorporate ghee, sesame oil and other healthful oils in the diet
* Eat at routine times each day, having lunch be the largest meal. * Avoid ice cold drinks, particularly taken with meals or immediately after
* Limit raw, cold foods such as salads and raw vegetables
* Minimize caffeinated beverages and other stimulants
Try Spiced Oatmeal For Breakfast :
In a medium saucepan over low heat, heat 1 Tbsp Ghee (clarified butter) with 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom, 1/4 tsp ginger and a dash of nutmeg and clove just until the scent is released from the spices.Add 2 cups water, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup raisins or 1/4 cup chopped prunes and bring to a boil.
Stir in 1 cup organic rolled oats.
Let the cereal come to a boil again and then reduce the heat to low and simmer until it reaches a smooth creamy consistency.
Serve with maple syrup or agave as a sweetener.
For sweeteners, never heat honey, it creates a toxic effect in the body.
Avoid molasses as it is a cause of imbalance.
Options: Add raw nuts or seeds, best if soaked overnight to make them more digestible
Before Bed:
Have warm milk spiced with a pinch of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg to calm the nerves and promote a restful sleep
Your Yoga Practice:
Focus on the breath keeping it deep, slow and rhythmic
Emphasize the inhalation
Practice asanas that are grounding, stabilizing and strengthening to pacify Vata:
Standing poses like Virabhadasana 1and 3 (Warrior 1and 3),Vrksasana (Tree Pose), and Utkatasana(chair pose) practiced with an awareness of the feet on the ground and the strength and weight of the leg muscles and bones.
Calming poses like balasana (child pose), savasana (corpse pose), uttanasana (forward bend), and pashchimottanasana (full forward bend) calm the nervous system.
May All Beings Everywhere Be Happy, Peaceful and Free
