Ayurveda: Vāta Dosha Explained
According to Ayurveda and Yoga...Ayurveda is, in short, is the sister science to Yoga...the world is made up of 5 elements. All things are made from these elements in some balance that is just perfect for each and every "thing" that exists. The elements are ether (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (ap), earth (prithvi). Each of these elements have qualities that I have come to learn are the most useful things to learn and know about. The words in italics are sanskrit.
Vāta is pronounced v-ah-tah. It is a combination of the elements of ether and air.
Ether- akasha is the space that everything else lives in. It is the space between things. It is what comes first. We can’t see ether, but we can hear it. Think about how you can tell how big a space is by hearing the way sound bounces off the boundaries.
The pores in your skin or in leaves are ether. A pumis stone is full of ether. Your mouth is a space. Nostrils are space. The colon is a big space. The lungs and the stomach are space. It doesn't mean the spaces don't get filled. In fact, that is the point of space...it can contain other things.
Its qualities are cold, subtle, light (as in weightless), still, dry, expansive. It has these qualities because it lacks the other elements. There is no movement from air, no heat from fire, or moisture from water or heaviness from earth. The mind is associated with ether as it is subtle and can’t be defined. It has no real edges. When there is too much ether in a person there is often a dissociation or spaciness to them.
Air- vayu is air. It’s what happens when ether moves. We can’t see air unless we see it effecting things or feel it on our skin. Air is movement, and it causes things to get cold, dry, and rough. It’s light (as in weightless) and also causes things to become lighter. And it is subtle because we can’t really see it.
Ayurveda relates fall and early winter to Vāta. It’s the time of year when the characteristics of ether and air show up in everything. The leaves dry up and get lighter. The weather patterns start to shift back and forth which creates wind. It gets cold. The birds are moving around a lot and chatter a lot…movement and sound. The leaves are falling and rustle and crunch which is more movement and sound. There’s more space in the landscape with all the leaves gone and other vegetation flattened by the snow and wind.
Makes sense right?
All this gives us dry skin, creaky joints, maybe gassy bellies and constipation. You might notice your ears ring and you feel a little scattered and disorganized.
It’s important to stay warm. Wear ear coverings (Vāta is related to the ears and skin). Drink warm liquids. Eat meals that add liquids and heaviness like stews and soups made from root veggies and maybe meats if needed. Do a movement practice that involves slow movement that is rhythmic and focuses on poses that help you feel steady and grounded like chair pose or tree pose.