Vata Imbalance

Are you feeling forgetful, spacey, or are you lacking focus? Is your skin dry or have you been constipated (for what it’s worth, poop is very important in Ayurveda)? Do you suffer from
insomnia? These are signs of a vata imbalance. Basically, you are reacting to the colder, dryer, and windier weather. So what can you do?

For starters, think about your diet. Begin by moving away from dry, cold salads to moist, warm dishes like soups, stews, stir-fry dishes, and even pasta. Note that I said “begin to move away” so no, Virginia, you don’t have to give up all your salads immediately. Just begin to introduce the warm and moist dishes.

When you get up in the morning, spend time meditating (if you aren’t sure how to meditate, join me and others to go to the world famous Himalayan Institute on October 21-23 where I will be teaching you how to meditate, among other things).

Practice nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) when you get up in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Nadi shodhana is very balancing.

Finally, before you shower in the morning, dry brush your skin. Take a body brush and brush your skin in the direction of your heart. Brush your limbs, torso (abdomen, buttocks, and back). The brush will help exfoliate your skin and will supercharge your lymphatic system... your skin cells will be singing!

Follow the dry brushing with abhyanga (oiling your skin) with sesame oil (not the roasted kind unless you relish the idea of smelling like a Chinese restaurant). Take a shower but don’t wash off the oil (just wash the necessary areas) and when you get out of the shower, pat your skin dry so you don’t rub off all the oil. Feel free to re-apply oil if your skin feels really dry in areas.

These are just a few ways you can begin to mitigate the effects of vata weather. If you have any questions, let me know. I’m happy to help you. 🙂 - Maggie