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- Parent Category: articles
- Category: Lifestyle Habits & Daily Routines
- Published: Saturday, 11 March 2017 04:13
Vata balancing habits
Make a Pot of Soup
Vatas are often attracted to light and crunchy foods, like salads, crackers, popcorn, etc. They can also go to extremes, from all raw vegan to chocolate cheesecake and back on the same day. A bowl of soup, by contrast, is a nourishing, warm, and easily digestible meal (given that it's fresh and devoid of artificial preservatives).
Making a nice pot of soup at home to eat over a few days is a very grounding thing for Vata: the process is relaxing, and knowing you have something good to eat brings security to an anxious mind.
Wear a Warm and Soft Sweater
More than for any other dosha, staying warm is crucial for Vata individuals who are chronically cold and whose skin is often sensitive and dry. Staying warm during the day can radically alter the state of consciousness of a Vata person. Cashmere, silk, and merino wool may be more expensive than cotton or synthetics, but they are worth their weight in gold! So layer up!
Take a Nice Mellow Walk
Vatas tend to be attracted to extremes and exercises that demand bursts of energy. Unfortunately, those bursts also often leave them quickly depleted, as they don't have as much stamina as other types. Walking is a moderate activity that conditions the whole body while also allowing mental space for the ideas and creativity that is the lifeblood of Vatas. An exercise routine that includes regular 30 to 60 minutes walks and slow meditative mind-body practice such as Yin Yoga and Tai Chi is ideal for Vata people.
Oil your Skin
Vata's skin can get dry and rough, especially in the winter. Self Abhyanga, or oil massage, is one of the most nourishing and grounding practices Ayurveda has to offer a Vata person.
The best oils for Vata are sesame, olive, almond, wheat germ, and castor oil. Make sure the oil is warm. An easy way to do that is to put the oil in a squeeze bottle and put the bottle in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes.
Drink Ginger Tea
Vata people often have a low digestive fire, especially if they eat a lot of raw, dense, and cold foods. Ginger tea is both warmings and stimulates digestion, cutting through Ama (toxic build-up) in the digestive tract and unveiling true hunger. It is also a remedy for intestinal gas, which can be an unfortunate feature in Vata's life. It also is a wonderful alternative to coffee or tea, both of which are drying and depleting for Vata.
How to make ginger tea?
- Grate a tablespoon of fresh ginger root and put it in a mason jar.
- Pour hot water over and cover it up with the lid.
- Let it stand for 10 minutes, and strain.
- Add honey to taste.
Eat Whole Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruits like oranges and mandarins are a godsend for Vata: they are sweet, soft, and juicy, all qualities that Vata need. Citrus also comes with its own natural package that demands that you take the time to be present, peel the fruit and eat it one piece at a time. Plus the fiber contained in the whole fruit contains beneficial antioxidants and Flavonoids that are not contained in the juice of the same fruit.
Menus and eating habits for Vata, Pitta, Kapha types.
