A person with a predominance of Vata in their constitution has a predominance of the elements air and space in their constitution. Attributes that constitute what Ayurveda calls Vata are :
- lightness
- dryness
- mobility
- penetrating
- cool
- clear
- rough
- dispersing
In excess these attributes imbalance Vata while their opposites calm Vata.
An understanding of what Vata is and where it sits in the body helps enable us to balance Vata.
To see the Vata constitution or a Vata imbalance we need to be aware of these qualities or attributes (listed above) & how they manifest in both people and the environment.
Vata is associated with all motion in both the body - mind and world - to imagine what Vata energy feels like - one need only imagine the wind and reflect on what it can do - dry our clothes, clear away congestion (like a sneeze), cool us with breezes on hot days and destroy whole cities with cyclonic force. Similarly, Vata dries dampness in the body, dispels congestion, cools us down and can create painful wind like moving pains in the body, especially the colon.
Vata types are described as being quick witted and always on the go both physically/mentally or both; an inability to slow down, get grounded, or stop is evidence of an imbalance in this *dosha and will of often show up first in the digestion or skin.
Vata is found in abundance in the skin, brain, ears, bones joints & thighs. The Vata dosha's primary residence in the body is the colon & any kind of surgery in this region can create an imbalance in this dosha.
Those with a predominance of Vata in their constitution - are likely to have dark, curly, wiry or fine hair, delicate, fine skin with small even pores, that tans easily, nails that tend towards being brittle & fine, thin lips that crack easily & small brown or grey eyes.
They will be short or tall in stature with irregular features & tend towards being thin (most Vata types find it hard to gain weight & then once they do tend to lose it just as easily).
Imbalances in this dosha show up more readily in autumn & winter when Vata is at its peak - as dry, cracked hands, feet or nails, all dry skin conditions, flatulence, constipation, bloating, nervous twitching & aching joints, anxiety, fear, worry & confusion related to these mental states or memory loss.
Vata is most active in the late afternoon & early evening from 2pm to 6pm & early morning from 2am to 6am
Balance Vata by:
- Avoiding the cold and staying warm
- Avoiding cold, raw, uncooked or old foods, especially apples and members of the cabbage family
- Saying good bye to ice-cream unless it contains warming spices or it's a heat wave!
- Avoiding most beans and pulses (anything larger than a lentil is hard for Vata to digest)
- Making sure your food is moist and well lubricated - of all the dosha's you can afford to eat good quality butters and oils liberally!
- Choosing warming slow cooked food containing warming spices
- Remembering that sweet, sour and salty tastes support you
- Keeping a regular daily routine (of all the things you could do - this one is key!) because you find this difficult
- Resting and meditating
- Having regular massages
- Taking warm baths, regular self massage with warm Rasasara Vata Body Oil, compresses and applying the Rasasara daily beauty ritual - as recommended
- Creating a calm, warm and stable environment in which to live & work
- Surrounding yourself with warm and loving people
Rasasara Skinfoods Ayurvedic Skin Care
Vata Beauty Rituals / Replenish / Normal - Dry
Vata Morning Ritual
Cleansing Compress - fill a basin with warm to hot water & add 5 - 8 drops of the Cleansing Compress Drops - submerge a clean face cloth in the basin & wring out well - compress your face firmly with the cloth, breathing deeply inhaling the herbaceous smells of the essential oils. Apply pressure to any areas of tension on the face - focus on areas that are prone to blackheads, pimples & congestion or deep lines.
Exfoliate - (extremely dry Vata types can exfoliate once daily either morning or night, depending upon convenience). Using the scoop provided, mix 1 scoop of exfoliant with enough water to make a light paste in the palm of your hand & gently massage using circular motions your entire face & under chin; this can be performed in the * shower or over a basin i.e. utilizing your compressing water to rinse off.* If exfoliating in the shower avoid taking the whole jar into shower as moisture will eventually cause the exfoliant to deteriorate. Towel pat dry.
Tone/Hydrate - Mist the entire face with Aromatic Hydrating Mist (omit if skin is still damp)
Moisturise - In the palm of your hand mix *4- 5 drops of Nourishing Oil + *2 sprays of Aromatic Mist into a light cream. Press onto & massage into the face & neck, using upward strokes & gentle circular motions around the cheeks. * Adjust your oil to water ratio with the seasons, your skin will need more oil in the dryer months & more Aromatic Hydrating Mist in the hotter months, as you reconnect with your skins needs you will become more attuned to your bodies needs.
Enjoy - Experience being grounded. Take a deep breath and reconnect with your inner
beauty.
Vata Evening Ritual
Cleanse - gently cleanse the face & neck with the Cleansing Bar of *choice, lather into a rich cream either in the shower or over a basin, avoiding the delicate eye area. Pat face dry with a soft towel. *Cleansing bars will vary according to your skins needs i.e. you may be a combination of both Vata & Pitta Or Vata & Kapha, therefore Vata cleansing is appropriate during the drier months of autumn & winter, Pitta cleansing during summer & Kapha cleansing during spring when breakouts are more likely to occur.
Exfoliate - if your skin is extremely dry daily exfoliating will help remove dead skin & allow Vata Nourishing Oils in - so if you missed the morning exfoliation apply it in the evening.
Tone/Hydrate - spray the entire face & neck with Vata Aromatic Mist
Moisturise & Revitalise - in the palm of your hand place 2 drops of Chandra Revitalising Oil with 3 drops of Vata Nourishing Oil + 3 spays of Vata Hydrating Mist ( again adjust to your skins changing needs). Press gently onto the face & gently massage into your skin, using upward strokes & gentle circular motions around the cheeks. See Natural Face lift.
Enjoy - Experience being grounded. Take a deep breath and reconnect with your inner beauty.
Vata Weekly Nourishing Mask
Compress - follow the compressing ritual provided in the daily morning ritual only this time include the entire décolletage.
Deeply nourish gently apply a layer of Rasa Skin Balm to the entire face, neck & décolletage. Now repeat the compression ritual above using a hot face washer & quick compressions so as not to burn the skin - the aim is to steam the skin balm into the skin. This treatment can be applied when your skin is in need of a quick lift in a hurry.
Mask - rejuvenating & hydrating this mask will yield maximum results when applied after the above nourishing treatment. Take 1- 2 scoops of Vata Exfoliant/Mask & mix with 1 tbls of yogurt or avocado & enough water to make a smooth thick paste. Apply to the entire face using fingers or cosmetic brush. The mask stays active whilst wet/spray mist with Aromatic Mist.
Enjoy - use this time to relax placing the mind on the breath, releasing any fears & worries. Leave for 10 - 20 min & gently remove with tepid water.
Vata Bi- Weekly - Self Massage
This treatment is highly recommended for Vata types of any age & anyone who wants to avoid a Vata imbalance
Warm -30 - 50 mls of Vata Body Nourishing Oil in a small basin of boiling water for 3 minutes by placing it in a small container that can sit in the basin of boiling water.
Massage In a warm comfortable place with a towel underneath you begin the massage starting with each foot using circular motions around the joints &working up and down along each limb.
Mantra use this meditative time to focus on the breathe & repeat the mantra Om Nama Shivaya, this means, I honor the divinity that resides in me. Allow 10 -30 minutes for this highly rejuvenating practice.
Bath soak in a warm bath to enable the oils & herbs to penetrate deeply into the tissues loosening toxins & allowing them to be released via the GI tract.
Download your Rasasara skin care routine -
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Vata types are described as being quick witted &
always on the go both physically / mentally or both; an inability to
slow down. Learn more