Be Gentle Dear One, Navigating Emotions Through Vata Season
Let’s talk about the emotional roller coaster that might sneak up on you come the fall time. I know for me recently I felt this deeply-a feeling of complete overwhelm, irritability and on edge. I almost felt like I was untethered from my own life. Grateful for the wisdom of Ayurveda, I made some immediate shifts which looked like: engaging in small talk less, prioritizing quiet time, and aiming to consume as much warm, mushy, oily and slow cooked food as I could. Ayurveda encourages us each season to adjust our practices: diet, lifestyle, consumption, exercise, etc. For the Fall & Winter season my yoga practice is slow, fluid, warm, compact, smooth and grounding. (Note: It is VERY different in the summer and the spring). I pull in needed qualities this time of year to strive towards balance-heaviness, slowness, groundedness and warmth.
The Elements of Ayurveda
The Fire element is stepping away from center stage (goodbye, Summer!!🌞), and Air and Space elements are taking the spotlight for the next few months. We are officially in the Vata season-Fall🍁. What a beautiful thing to be able to experience different seasons. The magic of a crisp fall morning is hard to put into words…nearly impossible if you ask me. Ayurveda is an ancient medicine that is based on the belief that there are 5 Elements-Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Two elements combine to create three constitutions or Doshas-Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We are all a unique combination of the three doshas. Each dosha has certain qualities. Vata season is happening now and it is a combination of Space and Air AKA: Wind💨. The qualities of Vata are: subtle, light, mobile, cold, hard, rough, clear and dry. Vata’s nickname is The King of The Doshas and it is responsible for 80 disorders. Because of Vata’s subtle quality, it is the fastest Dosha to go out of balance. If you can remember one thing about Ayurveda, let it be this, “opposites bring balance.” You may find the chart below helpful. Here are the 20 qualities in Ayurveda-10 pairs of opposite qualities. Save this & refer back to it!! Let it be a helpful tool for you to live in the essence of Ayurveda and a way to strive for balance.
If you notice yourself experiencing a lot of one quality, consider bringing in the opposite quality for balance. For a more indepth and personal discussion on Ayurveda specific to YOU, please reach out to Meg to schedule a 90 minute Ayurvedic Consultation: meg@vitatejas.com (I would love to work with you!🤩)
The Vata Qualities & Emotional Disturbances
We all have the Vata Dosha within us…in varying amounts. So it is not unrealistic to predict at some point this Fall & Winter, all of us will experience an imbalance. We experience an imbalance typically when there is too much of a quality- too much movement/lightness/dryness/roughness/coolness/hardness and clearness. (Note: This is specific to the Fall and Winter time…Spring & Summer are entirely different stories). The emotional disturbances of Vata can look like: anxiety, worry, fear, loneliness, fragility, and a sense of ungroundedness. Think about erratic wind, whirling around in your head-causing unsteady thoughts, overthinking, overwhelm, pressure, discomfort, rumination leading to feelings of fear, isolation and anxiety. Just like the wind suddenly changes speed and direction, an out of balance Vata can have intense emotional highs and lows. You may feel an underlying tone of rootlessness. Because Vata has the Clear quality- too much of this can lead to a feeling of isolation, emotional detachment and hollowness. The opposite of the Clear quality is Sticky/Cloudy…think: healthy emotional attachment, bonding, a beautiful connection, cohesion, embracing. You could bring in the Sticky/Cloudy quality by: hugging/holding a friend for 5 seconds longer than usual, connecting with your bestfriend and being really present, snuggling with your pet/kiddo/partner, booking a bodywork session such as massage therapy or reiki to get some compassionate hands on you. Vata season does not last forever. Come Spring time-you will be feeling much different!
The Opposite Qualities
Opposites bring balance. Generally speaking, we want to bring in the opposite qualities of the Fall/Vata time. This means: heaviness, warmth, smoothness, oiliness or unctuousness, and slowness. (Refer to the image above!!) Personally, I intentionally move slower in the Fall. I rush less. I rest more. I get horizontal more often. I try to lighten up my calendar. I intentionally cultivate more steady, warm, and grounding activities. I rarely eat anything straight out of the fridge. I’m no longer buying cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, romaine lettuce, crackers & hummus. Instead, I’m buying ingredients for brothy delicious soups, warm rice with ghee, roasted root vegetables and diving into my spice cabinet a bit more for warming spices like black pepper, ginger, and curry.
Simplicity
I’m a huge fan of the basics. So let me share some very simple, easy, balancing things to do during this time of year.
Bundle up and stay warm-wear a jacket, hat, scarf and mittens. Reduce or avoid exposing your skin to the elements.
Reduce cold, rough, light and dry food and drinks. This means: crackers, cold salad, kale, raw vegetables, pop corn, rice cakes, iced beverages, ice cubes, fizzy drinks, crunchy granola, smoothies, yogurt.
Increase warm, oily, heavy, smooth and grounding foods- stews, soups and porridges. Meals that are slow cooked with ghee and digestive spices. Favor root vegetables and cook them so they’re mushy and easy to digest.
Reduce going outside with a wet head of hair. Plan your hair washes accordingly.
Limit over stimulation-it adds to a busy mind and we want to slow the mind down. Limit TV, scrolling, social activities, and constantly doing and being “on”.
Experiment with a slower exercise like restorative yoga.
Indulge in warm beverages like tea and boiled water.
Create rhythm and groundedness by developing a daily routine.
When you feel especially overwhelmed or anxious-pause, take a deep belly breath, feel your feet on the earth. Imagine pulling excess erratic wind and air out of your mental space, and pulling it down into the Earth.
Oil your body!!!! Face, ears, legs, feet, etc. Best to do before the shower, so the hot water can help the oil penetrate into your tissue layers. (Be mindful with oil on the soles of your feet).
Ayurveda is all about gathering information and experimenting with trial & error. It is an invitation to live skillfully. How are you feeling today? For a week, try some of the suggestions above and notice any changes or shifts within you. I am wishing you a lovely Fall Season!
Meg is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor and board certified through the National Ayurveda Medical Association and a Licensed Massage Therapist at the NH Health & Wellness Center. She teaches yoga and hosts workshops at Humble Warrior Power Yoga in Manchester, NH. To learn more about her and her offerings, check out her website at www.vitatejas.com and follow her on instagram at @vitatejas. If you have questions or want to inquire about booking an appointment, email her at meg@vitatejas.com
