Ayurveda ‘short’

Balancing vata dosha

Welcome to this weeks Ayurveda ‘short’. Over the last few weeks I have been talking about the concept of the doshas of vata, pitta and kapha. Explaining that these are bio energies that form our constitution and allow for certain processes to take place.

When the doshas within our constitution start moving out of balance, this starts to create the conditions where the symptoms of dis-ease will develop that leads, over time, to illness and the destruction of our body’s innate intelligence – digestion, immunity, cell functions, purification systems.

This week I’m offering a few tips on how to rebalance vata dosha. You can read about the imbalance symptoms of vata dosha here.

Vata balancing tips

Slow down (you need to calm the wind energy that makes up vata dosha along with ether energy), take time to be still and quiet, keep warm, go into nature and bring a gentle rhythm back into your life, eat regular meals to balance vata dosha, favour the sweet salty and sour tastes, bring qualities into your life that are the opposite of vata like stillness, stability, softness, regularity, warmth, moisture and smoothness, carry out abhyanga (self-massage) each day followed by a warm relaxing steamy bath or shower, surround yourself with warmth and nourishment.

Eat more foods with these qualities: warm, nourishing, moist, oily, smooth, grounding, dense, protein rich, and soupy; eat some tamasic food (meat/fish); get your sweet taste from grains like wheat, spelt, quinoa, rice, oats; from dairy; from soft, sweet, moist fruits e.g. fresh dates, fresh figs, mango, ripe bananas; sweeteners include raw honey, maple syrup, molasses, barley malt. Keep to regular mealtimes.

Eat less (avoid altogether if vata dosha is showing signs of imbalance): raw, cold, dry, hard, light food.

Have more of these tastes: sweet, salty, and sour.

Best oils to consume: sesame, ghee, hemp, olive.

Most spices are good for vata dosha, but fenugreek needs to be used sparingly and the chilli spices.

Limit (avoid altogether if vata dosha is showing signs of imbalance): caffeine, carbonated drinks, foods that are cold, dry, hard, raw; missing meals; eating on the run.

I hope that is helpful to you. I will, in the not to distant future, be offering menu plans and home retreat options for each of the dosha imbalances for my paid subscribers, as well as a monthly Q&A. If Ayurveda is something you would like to include in your life with personalised support, it is just £4.99 per month. A great option for anyone who would like to try Ayurveda out before investing in a one to one. In fact this is how I healed my 15 years of digestive issues in 3 months, at a time when I could not afford alternative health options.

If you enjoy these Ayurveda ‘shorts’ a like will let me know to carry on!

Warmest wishes,

Lucy x