Where’s the rush?
Whilst everyone will have their dominant dosha type, in today’s hyperactive world, it’s likely that we all have a bit too much Vata. In today’s culture, hurrying has become the norm – we move fast, we eat fast, we receive news as it’s happening through our screens, and we feel compelled to respond just as quickly whether it’s to a work email or a social media post.
Vata is the principle of movement. But that’s not just the movement you can see (fast pace, fast speech etc.), it also controls the movement of our thoughts and the various channels running through our body carrying vital nutrients and electrical impulses.
So what happens when we have an excess of Vata?
Vata is the catabolic state. This is important when we need to break down larger molecules into useful sources of energy for our body to digest or for our life force to course through our body. But too much Vata without the balancing attributes of Pitta and Kapha can leave us feeling airy and spacey, drying out our body into a weaker state. We lose the protective liquid that nourishes our nervous system, digestive system, joints and other organs as well as providing us with immunity (Kapha qualities). We lose the digestive fire that helps our body and mind to digest and comprehend incoming information (Pitta qualities). We lose stability that comes from the Earth element of Kapha, leaving us feeling frayed at the edges.
Movement is important, there’s no denying that. The human body was not designed to be sedentary and works optimally when we are mobile. Our lymphatic system relies on our muscle movement to get it working to naturally detoxify our body. Our gut relies on movement to help food move along and prevent constipation. And our brain also benefits from movement with its effect on serotonin levels.
They key then is to find a balance. This can be difficult in a time where many people can now work from home so work-life spills into home-life and we don’t easily switch off. It can also be difficult because we have so many things that are competing for our attention – social media, Netflix, the latest restaurant that everyone’s talking about.
To avoid exhaustion or depletion, we need to recognise these changes in us and take action. And as we enter the Vata season (Autumn), naturally, it is it a time of transition with heightened Vata features (cool, spacey, light, mobile, dry). This is a great time to use the seasonal change to make some changes ourselves.
Ayurveda teaches us to tune in to our mind and body and slow down our pace, take rest when needed (including rest from digital devices) and take exercise in proportion. Use the Earth element to ground the ethereal qualities of Vata – eat warm, cooked meals using spices to aid digestion, choose healthy protein and fats, perform Abhyanga self-massage to manage those frayed nerves and lubricate the joints. Most importantly, create yourself a morning routine. We can’t always predict how our day will go so having a morning routine can bring a sense of feeling rooted and ready for the day.
