hey! what's going on?

As we transition from summer to fall, the weather is less predictable. One day is sunny and hot, as if it's the middle of summer, and the next day is chilly, rainy and windy. Our bodies and minds react to these changes and increased vata is often the way they do it. Everyone is prone to at least a little "vata derangement" during these times.

How do you know if you're vata deranged?
In ayurveda, we like to examine the qualities or attributes of a thing (in this case, vata dosha) in order to see its effects on the body and mind. Vata's qualities are cold, rough, subtle, mobile and light.

Increased dryness and roughness show up as dry skin, lips and hair. Your joints may crack and pop more often. You may become constipated due to dryness in the colon.

Vata is light so you may have a decreased appetite. Insomnia, anxiety, insecurity and a sense of scatteredness also reflect too much lightness...you don't have the heaviness and stability to feel calm, secure, focused or sufficiently sleepy.

Vata is cold so you may catch a chill more often than usual. You could find yourself craving warm foods, sweaters and blankets.

Vata is mobile which can lead to the fidgets, inability to focus, unproductive multi-tasking and/or nervousness.

How do I calm my vata?
Once we've determined which of vata's qualities are elevated, ayurvedic practitioners apply the opposite qualities to quell an excess. (This is getting longer than I thought so come see me if you'd like more detailed, personalized information!)

In general, vata is calmed by:
·routine, routine and more routine!
·warm oil, self-massages daily before bathing (use sesame oil if it's a cool day or sunflower oil anytime.)
·meditation
·gentle yoga
·warm, whole foods (soups, stir-fried vegetables, rice with ghee and honey) and warming spices (pepper, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, ginger, garlic, cinnamon).
·drinking ginger tea or CCF tea (cumin, coriander and fennel in equal proportions)
·slow, deep breathing
·slow, rhythmic music
·even more routine.

--xoxo AyurvedaGirl
(had to put that in for Gossip Girl fans!)