Yoga For Your Doshas: Vata
Being in the middle of the cold Vata season of the year, it is no coincidence that low energy is a common thread among many. If you suffer from low energy and lack of motivation you may know just what I’m referring to.
What does it mean?
For those of us who are aware of our inner and outer surroundings, it’s important to realize that we don’t all function the same way. We are all very different; not just in the way we look and feel, but on an entirely molecular and functional level as well. The ancient sister science to yoga, Ayurveda, has realized the need to not apply one cure to all, but to differentiate between different body mind types, the Doshas.
Each Dosha has unique qualities and challenges. To get the best results in any kind of lifestyle choice–be that food, exercise, even yoga and meditation–it is helpful to know which predominant Dosha you are and how to make adjustments that are sustainable based on this knowledge.
The Ayurvedic Doshas are assigned to elements found in nature; Vata is associated with air and space, Pitta with fire and water, and Kapha with water and earth. These elements lend each Dosha their characteristics.
Pitta tends to be a strong-willed and hot-headed type; Kapha is sturdy, grounded and easy going; and Vata is changeable and variable in many ways, be that emotions, career, health regimes and energy levels.
In part one of this series, I want to introduce to you the Vata Dosha.
In general, Vata is happiest when warm, be that living in a warmer climate or bundling up with layers of sweaters and blankets when the colder seasons hit. Ayurvedic warm oil massages, such as Abhayangha, are very beneficial for keeping muscles and joints well lubricated and nourished and for preventing the skin from drying out and cracking. Steam therapy or saunas are also beneficial.
Vata is most aggravated in the fall and early winter. This is a good time to stay inside, reflect and nurture yourself with plenty of rest, nourishing and warm foods, gentle yoga and light activity.
Vata and Food
The characteristics of Vata are dry, cold, rough, subtle, light and mobile. The flavors that enhance Vata and increase these qualities are bitter, pungent and astringent. So naturally, to balance Vata we want to avoid foods with these qualities. Vata will benefit from foods that naturally have sweet, salty, and sour flavors, and are heavy in quality. Sweet potatoes, seawater fish, sweet and sour fruit, and root vegetables are great choices for the Vata person. It is also important for Vata to get plenty of good quality oils and fats in their diet to counter the inherent dryness of Vata. Lightly cooked and steamed foods with plenty of spices are easy to digest and will help warm up this cold type.
Vata and Exercise
Vata tends to have bursts of energy throughout the day. We often see Vata types involved in high intensity activity such as running, cycling or triathlons. Vata people love extreme sports and they can be adrenaline junkies. Yet to balance Vata, all these kinds of activities, though fun, are not the most beneficial. Movements that require focus, increase core heat, challenge balance and are multi-functional make best use of Vata’s energy. The plank hold is a classic example of an exercise perfect for the Vata type. It requires focus, increases core temperature, uses Vata’s variable energy wisely without overexerting the adrenal system, and the plank can be made more challenging if performed one legged, one armed, or with arms or feet resting on a Bosu Ball.
The Vata Mind: Meditation
Vata has a very busy mind. When you think of the monkey mind, think Vata. This person’s thoughts will be all over the place and may jump back and forth between last night’s dreams, shopping lists, and conversations had or to be had. If you find yourself to be a Vata type, you might consider a form of meditation that will keep your mind busy, focused on one object. Counting your breath or Japa Anusthana (Mantra meditation using a Mala or Rosary) will work best for you as it gives your mind a steady focal point.
The Vata Yogi
Similar to other exercise, the Vata person will do well with a style of yoga that allows for longer holds that don’t tax the adrenal system. Try some challenging poses, balances and styles that engage the mind. If you are a Vata person, you may enjoy a traditional Hatha Yoga practice or a practice that will involve your mind and spirit, such as Jivamukti Yoga. You will also greatly benefit from Restorative Yoga that gives your nervous system a break.
Poses that are particularly beneficial for Vata are asanas that stimulate energy flow while taking a load off the lower back, floor poses and spinal flexion, such as Urdhva Danurasana (floor bow pose), Bhujangasana (cobra pose) and Urdhva Mukha Savasana (upward facing dog pose).
You can see that knowing which Dosha type you are can help you live a more balanced, healthier and fulfilled life.
Stay tuned for part two and three of this series to learn about Pitta and Kapha Dosha.
About the Author
An Ayurvedic Elixir for Total Rejuvenation
The Vedic sutras and ayurvedic texts, describe a sacred drink called soma rasa, said to beget eternal life. Soma rasa, also called amrita, is a Sanskrit word meaning “nectar of immortality.’’ Like the legendary “Fountain of Youth,” there are many speculations regarding the origin and location of soma rasa. The mythic stories of soma rasa describe its literal power in the human body. Soma is created internally within natural physiological processes, and harvested externally from plants and herbs. The correct utilization of soma rasa via meditation, diet, ritual, and yoga results in total rejuvenation of the human form.
The tantric systems in India, teach that soma rasa is made from moon’s waters. The moon is sometimes referred to as a cup the gods drink soma from to maintain their immortality. Every evening all the gods dip a finger into the moon-cup and drink the soma until the moon is empty.[i] Rituals described in the Vedic texts, still practiced in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, make soma from a plant harvested in the Himalayas. Some researchers theorize this is not the soma plant referred to in the Vedic texts, and believe soma is an unidentified, hallucinogenic plant, that grows in northern India and Nepal.[ii] The 9th Mandela in the Rg Veda, called the Soma Mandela, devotes 114 hymns to the purification of Soma, which is said to bring those who drink it to ecstasy. Other scholars hypothesize that soma is a bhasma, a type of ayurvedic medicine made according to rasashastra.[iii] Rasashastra is a type of alchemy medicine native to India, and involves the purification of metals and gems through a process of alternate heating, cooling, oxidizing and crushing, until a fine pure ash of consumable medicine is left, called a bhasma. Mercury, one of the primary metals used in rasashastra preparations, is thought to make the body perfect. Rasashastra is still practiced today, and takes years of specialized study under a master alchemist. Taking rasashastra preparations from untrained or unknown sources can be dangerous, and possibly life threatening.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika teaches that meditation, specifically a practice called the kechari mudra, where a devotee inverts his tongue to touch the far recesses of his throat, and holds the posture for a period of time, will clear a membrane, and allow the secretion of soma to consistently drip from the sahasrara chakra.[iv] Meditation is taught to perfect the body so the practitioner can focus on gathering his internal winds, and bring the soma from the base of his spine up to the crown of his head, where the sahasrara chakra secretes soma rasa.[v] When soma rasa is secreted, the practitioner will experience bliss and immortality.
In the Sushruta Samhita, a classic Ayurvedic text, soma is described as having several plant origins, extracted in an elaborate ritual, that require building a house made of three chambers, where the center chamber is dedicated for the soma practice. The devotee begins with a series of specific mantras, pricking the bulb of the plant with a golden needle, and collecting its milky substance in a silver vessel, and drinks it. He then experiences soma’s effects over a period of four months, marked by distinct physical changes and practices, that include moving to different chambers for set days, applying and ingesting specific herbs, taking baths, and receiving specific massages. By the end of the fourth month, he is renewed physically, attains mastery over cosmological knowledge, never meets a failure in life, and is infused with divine spirit.[vi]
Soma has both, a metaphysical and physical means of transference. The substance of soma is pure love, and gives waves of bliss through our consciousness when it is ingested or produced. Exposure to the full moon, far away from city lights increases internal soma. It can also be cultivated in healthy lifestyle habits, extracted from plants, and produced in meditation. It requires a level of systemic function to be fully utilized, and therefore, cannot be accessed by sheer whim. Intentional support, facilitated by rejuvenation practices that restore digestive strength and detoxification, enable the extraction and proper assimilation of soma rasa.
Physically, soma is secreted by the glandular system. It is a finite manifestation of our immune system, and life force. The ancient Vedic texts indicate the place of soma secretion is the pineal gland, and some theorize that soma may actually be the powerful antioxidant called melatonin.[vii] As it is consumed, the body’s tissues become more elastic, and regain strength. The heart beats with a youthful vigor, and the mind sharpens. The shared teaching of the soma legend says, that immortality is not living forever, as we understand it, it is having enough physical strength and health, that the body is not an impediment to self-realization. The Vedic texts teach the desire to live forever is only worthy in order to completely actualize one’s full potential. The yogic and ayurvedic practices rejuvenate the body and restore vitality, so that we can ultimately transcend our physical body and reach enlightenment.
Moon’s Soma Drink
This is a drink that enhances soma production within the body and mind. It is best enjoyed after an evening meditation practice while basking under the light of the full moon.
Ingredients:
- ½ C Macadamia Nuts
- ½ C Brazil Nuts
- 4 C Purified Water
- 4 Thai Coconuts
- 1 T Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Pink Pepper
- ½ tsp Himalayan Salt
- 1 Vanilla Bean Pod
- ½ T Shatavari Root Powder
Directions:
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Soak macadamia nuts and Brazil nuts in a bowl with 4 cups of purified water. Strain and discard water.
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Put nuts in a high speed blender with 4 more cups of purified water. Blend at a high speed. Strain through a nut milk bag and set aside.
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Crack open coconuts and pour coconut water into blender. Scrape out meat and add to blender. Blend at high speed until liquefied.
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Add macadamia and Brazil nut milk back into blender with coconut milk.
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Slice vanilla bean pod and scrape seeds into a small bowl. Blend into nut milk with the remaining ingredients. Pour into glasses and serve at room temperature.
References:
[i] Cashford, J. (2003). The Moon: myth and image. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows.
[ii] Jay, Mike. (1999). Blue Tide: The Search for Soma. New York: Autonomedia,
[iii] Mishra, L. C. (2004). Scientific basis for Ayurvedic therapies. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
[iv] Aiyangar, M. (1949). Haṭha-yoga-pradīpikā of Svātmārāma Svāmin ((3d ed.). Madras, India: Theosophical Pub. House.
[v] Fenner, Edward. 1(979). Rasyana Sidhhi: Medicine and Alchemy in the Buddhist Tantras. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin.
[vi] Dash, S., Padhy., & Sachidananda. The soma drinker of ancient India: an ethnobotanical retrospection. Journal of Human Ecology, 19-26.
[vii] Bhatnagar, S. S., & Isaacs, D. (2009). Microchakras: innerTuning for psychological well-being. Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions.
