Vata

arises from the elements Air and Ether/Space representing movement. The qualities combine to form the principle that allows for bodily movements like breath, peristalsis, and nerve impulses, while the expansive nature of vata invites our ability to communicate with others, think creatively, and be spontaneous. Vata is considered to be the most important or primary of the three doshas, as it is in charge of respiration, the nervous system, and elimination. Only healthy Vata can keep air and ether/space balanced with one another, by ensuring that there is just enough ether/space for air to move in, and just enough air to move within it.

QUALITIES dry, cold, irregular, light, mobile, hard, erratic, dispersing, and subtle

SEASON autumn                      

TIME OF DAY 2am–6am | 2pm-6pm

PHYSICAL lean, small boned, prone towards becoming overly dry, cold, and dehydrated. Tend to be either very tall or very short, with light or heavy bones and prominent joints, with long fingers and toes. Difficulty gaining weight and are generally thin although they can experience wide variations in their weight over their lifetime. Their hair is dry, curly or frizzy and their skin tends to be rough and chaps easily, (chapped lips, cracked feet, or corns and calluses).

STORED IN THE BODY Vata governs all movements of any kind in the physical and mental body: the nervous system, the circulation of blood, the movement of food through the digestive tract, the flow of breath, the elimination of waste, the expression of speech, and the movement of thoughts. The brain, nervous system, heart, large intestine/colon (its primary site), bones, lungs, bladder, pelvis, thighs, ears, and skin.

IMBALANCE prone to anxiety, restlessness, worry, insecurity, loneliness, worry, fear, lack of faith, poor memory and concentration. The light and dry qualities of vata create a dryness within the body, causing sciatica, arthritis, blocked circulation, dehydration, and constipation. Due to vata nature- dry, instable, light, erratic, cold- they need baths, abhyganga oils and massage. Prone to sciatica, arthritis, blocked circulation.

BALANCE heavy, sweet, warming influences, grounding moistening, stable, grounding, soothing, nourish, with calming, grounding, restorative properties, grounding/heavy, and oily (externally and internally. Enthusiastic, creative, energetic and open-minded. Sensitive to sensory stimuli (light, noise, etc) and can be easily overcome by them. To support healthy vata, incorporate balancing influences like a daily warm oil massage, warm baths and oils followed by time in nature to ground and maintain a healthy and consistent daily routine and take plenty of rest.