how to balance a vata body type

Everyday tips to befriend vata dosha

In Ayurveda, there is a guiding principle that is rooted in the wisdom of nature and underpins much of Ayurvedic practice and philosophy. It makes balancing the doshas quite simple once you understand what it means:

“Like increases like and the opposite brings balance.”

“Like increases like ” means that the qualities of vata dosha will be amplified by anything you do, consume, or expose yourself to that shares those same qualities – dry, light, mobile, rough, subtle, and clear.

“The opposite brings balance” implies that when one of the body types is aggravated, you can return to balance by reducing its qualities and favouring their opposites with foods, herbs, activities, habits, and experiences that enhance the opposing energies.

Here are examples of dietary choices, environmental factors, lifestyle habits, and emotional patterns that share similar qualities with the vata body type.

what imbalances vata dosha

Diet:

• Light, dry, airy food, such as crackers, popcorn, crisps, or raw salads.
• Carbonated beverages and cold drinks, including iced herbal teas or cold smoothies.
• Foods that are cooling, both energetically and in temperature, such as coconut oil, cucumbers, zucchinis, coriander, mint, cold milk, oats, or grapes.
• Foods that taste astringent (such as raw apples, cranberries, and pomegranates), bitter (like leafy greens, kale, and coffee), or pungent (such as chilli peppers, garlic, and onions).
• Stimulants, such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
• Skipping meals and not eating enough.

Environment:

• Prolonged exposure to windy, dry, or cold environments.
• Autumn and winter.
• Artificial heat, such as heat-pumps, and artificial cooling, like air conditioners.
• Loud noises and chaotic environments.

Lifestyle:

• Excessive time in front of electronics.
• High-speed travel, such as trains, planes, or cars.
• An irregular schedule.
• Multitasking and splitting your attention.
• Starting many projects at once and not finishing them.
• Lack of sound, deep sleep.
• Excessive movement.
• Supplements and medications.

Mind and Emotions:

• Excessive mental activity or overthinking.
• Stress and emotional upheaval.
• Living out of alignment with your personal values and your truth.
• Neglecting self-care and relaxation.
• Suppressing emotions.
• Constant worry and fear.
• Negative self-talk.

When I first learned about these vata-aggravating factors, I fell into black-and-white thinking, deeming all the listed aspects as “bad.”

It is important to remember that this is not the case, and engaging in these activities or consuming these foods doesn’t make you a bad person.

Instead, it simply highlights the factors in your life that share the same qualities as vata dosha. If you find yourself engaging in many of these, you can learn to balance them by incorporating more of the opposite qualities or reducing the ones that amplify vata. This approach helps you maintain harmony and good health.

Now, let us take a look at examples of a diet, environment, lifestyle, and emotional patterns that have the opposite qualities to the vata type – think warm, heavy, dense, liquid, wet, oily, still, soft, and smooth.

what balances vata dosha

Diet:

• Warm, cooked foods, such as soups, stews, and cooked grains that are easy to digest.
• Oily and moist foods, including sesame oil, ghee, and avocados.
• Sweeter tasting (augmenting) foods that grow close to or under the ground – sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and pumpkins; or grains such as rice and wheat.
• Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, fennel, turmeric, hing/asafoetida, or mustard seeds.
• High-quality dairy if you aren’t vegan (milk, cheese, and yoghurt served warm).
• Drink warm or room-temperature water.
• Natural Ayurvedic herbs, such as triphala, ashwagandha, lavender, shatavari root, brahmi/gotu kola.

Environment:

• Warm, stable, and tidy environments.
• In very dry environments, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Quiet, calm, and peaceful spaces with soft lighting and calming colours.
• If possible, use natural methods to maintain comfortable temperatures.
• Sweet, soothing, and calming music, smells, settings, and company.

Lifestyle:

• Regular schedule, maintaining consistent times for eating, working, and sleeping.
• Regular routines, such as a grounding morning practice with meditation and gentle Yoga asana.
• Slow down and engage in activities that encourage a slower pace, like gentle yoga or a stroll in nature.
• If possible, favour local, slow-paced activities instead of high-speed travel.
• Practice moderation in all aspects of life, including exercise, work, diet, and socialising.
• Regular oil-massage, such as abhyanga, with warming oils like sesame oil.
• Spend time with grounded and serene people.

Mind and Emotions:

• Mindfulness practices, including meditation, prayer, and deep, slow breathing exercises.
• Taking time to turn inward with meditation, journaling, or a good book.
• Focus on priorities and set clear goals to complete one task at a time and avoid doing too much.
• Self-care, relaxation, downtime and activities that are nurturing and grounding.
• Allow yourself to feel and express all your emotions in a healthy way.
• Positive affirmations and self-compassion.

Instead of memorising all these points, you can make it an intuitive practice to feel and notice what contributes to balance and what doesn’t.

Do you feel bloated and gassy after snacking on dry crackers or sipping a fizzy drink? Does a slow morning routine with gentle yoga and a warm, nourishing porridge make you feel grounded and satiated? Do you find you sleep more deeply after a warm bath and a good book rather than an action-packed movie?

The main aspect to remember when you want to balance vata dosha is that moderation is key.

When I first started understanding the vata body type, I realised how often my lifestyle was inadvertently amplifying my vata imbalance. Rushing through meals, working late into the night, and neglecting self-care often left me feeling scattered, anxious, and constipated. By incorporating warm, grounding foods, setting a regular schedule, and embracing slower activities like meditation and gentle yoga, I began to feel more balanced and at ease.