Whether you're new to Ayurveda or you've been studying it for a while,
you've probably heard about vata, pitta, and kapha dosha,
and while we're a combination of all three,
usually one stands out more than the others.
So today we're going to talk about vata dosha.
We all likely know somebody with a vata-predominant dosha.
This person is usually slim, creatively inclined, maybe they like to dance,
sing, draw, or write,
and they usually ask a lot of questions and are okay with not getting an answer.
Do I do that?
We see these attributes because of the qualities of vata dosha,
which is comprised of ether and air elements, and ether is also known as space.
In Ayurveda,
each dosha has a specific set of qualities that lend physiological,
emotional, and spiritual clues into our unique constitutions.
If you want to learn more about what a dosha is, watch our video.
Just click this link.
Okay.
Imagine air moving through space.
This is wind and this is a great way to think about vata's quick and erratic
movements. The elements that make up vata are what gives it its qualities.
Air is cold, dry, rough, irregular, and unstable.
Ether is subtle, expansive, and, well, spacious.
Okay.
When we experience or witness anyone or anything that's exhibiting these
qualities, we can describe it as vata,
and this applies both internally and externally.
Our environment can also be vata--so think of a cool,
dry, windy autumn day. This is vata. In fact,
the entire season of autumn is described as vata season.
Looking at the qualities within ourselves, our environment,
and our foods can help us to identify when and where vata might become
imbalanced. In Ayurveda, like increases like,
so if it's vata season and we're eating vata foods,
we're probably gonna see those vata qualities increase.
A vata food favorite is often popcorn, which is light and dry,
just like vata.
And it might not actually be the best choice for somebody who already has a lot
of vata in their body because popcorn is very airy and it will increase air in
the body,
which means gas--and vata people are already prone to a lot of gas and bloating.
But vata is also part of your natural and healthy bodily functions,
such as the movement of food through the digestion,
the flow of breath in your body,
and the communication between your mind and your nervous system.
Do you have a tendency toward cool hands and feet and often crave cozy sweaters?
This can be a physical expression of the cool quality in vata. Mentally,
the spacious quality can express itself as a scattered mind or a head in the
clouds.
Okay.
When can begin to identify vata dosha in and around us,
we create an opportunity to understand ourselves at a deeper level,
and we can also work to create balance.
Since like increases like in Ayurveda,
the opposites bring balance. So on that cool,
windy autumn day,
try stepping inside and grabbing a warm mug of golden milk tea,
and put on a sweater. If you're having popcorn,
add extra ghee and digestive spices like cumin and salt.
I hope you find this video helpful and don't forget to share with a vata friend.
As always, we love to answer your Ayurvedic questions,
so just leave those in the comments below.
It's our mission to support your journey toward finding your greatest sense of
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