So what are the characteristics of an unbalanced vata?
Hold on tight as the autumn winds begin to blow. Otherwise, the changing of seasons can lead to a storm of imbalances.
Summer has passed by, holidays are over and a weekday with work, school and more routines is approaching. Many people are longing and find it nice to have a more structured life again. Others worry that performance and too many obligations will bring pressure on both life and well-being.
For many people, there is also uncertainty about what everyday life will be like, after more than a year of workplaces and schools moving into our homes. Uncertainty is a feeling that easily arises anxiety, especially for a person with a lot of vata in their constitution.
The Vata dosha carries, among other things, the element of air and with it comes mobility, cold, dryness, changeability and richness of idées and entrepreneuring.
With autumn comes windier weather, colder temperatures and drier air. All of these are, in ayurvedic terms, associated with the vata dosha and its qualities from the elements of air. Imbalance occurs when we have too much of any quality of an element. Thus, with the autumn climate, there is an increase in vata, which is spiked by changing our habits and routines.
In balance, the Vata dosha is a moving and enthusiastic energy with a great entrepreneurial spirit that likes to have many irons in the fire so to speak. A person who has vata as the dominant dosha in their basic constitution is often charismatic, has high energy, a moving body language and a mind with a lot of thoughts. The person often comes up with the idea and presents it with great engagement that is contagious and then hands the idea over to someone who can bring action to it. The person with vata, has already moved on to the next idea.
To avoid being blown away in the autumn storms, you should be as balanced as possible before the summer ends. Whether or not you enjoy autumn and a daily routine with more regularity, we as individuals feel better with more regular habits in our daily routines, especially if you have a lot of vata in your base.
Feel free to start establishing good morning and evening routines again a week before returning to school and work. Reduce your intake of barbecues and that extra glass of wine, especially late at night. Make sure to establish regularity in both eating and sleeping times. Don't forget to give yourself some time for yourself to get away from external influences, too much socialising and to quiet your thoughts.
So what are the characteristics of an unbalanced vata?
An unbalanced Vata freezes easily. Skin and hair become dry. Thoughts become too numerous and unstructured with the risk of dropping the odd ball along the way. Anxiety often sets in which can manifest as restlessness and stress. This can result in poor sleep. You may fall in deep sleep but wake up at two to two-thirty in the morning. Your are wide awake with thoughts turned on and your restlessness prevents you from going back to sleep.
Sleep is one of the two most important factors for health and well-being. Losing your sleep too many nights often fuels your anxiety and restlessness. This, in turn, can lead to feelings of low self-confidence, confusion and, in the worst cases, low self-esteem.
Another sign of an imbalance in Vata is when your stomach becomes swollen and hard, resulting in gassiness. Toilet visits with emptying of bowels is not done daily. Poor sleep and an upset stomach are symptoms that are important to overcome in order to maintain health.
Start with good evening routines to ensure good sleep throughout the night. You should unwind and remove yourself from external stimulants such as socialising, watching TV or scrolling on social media, a couple of hours before bedtime at 10pm. Do some yin yoga poses rounded off with meditation just before you go to sleep, to give your central nervous system time to calm down and your thoughts to dissipate.
In the morning, it's important to wake up in time to start your day in a calm way. Yoga that grounds you and presence at breakfast, which you eat in peace and quiet, will give you stability and confidence for the day.
Drink and eat hot. Sit down and eat in silence, if possible. Take a hot shower and feel free to use a sauna with a bath if you can. This helps to stimulate your body's temperature regulation and you will feel less cold.
For an extra boost of warmth, try the classic Ayurvedic massage abyanga, usually performed with hot sesame oil. Sesame oil itself has warming properties. In addition, oil massage gives the feeling of grounding, love and caring. You can do this massage yourself.
