Traversing Vata Season
What is Vata Season and what things we can do this time of year to achieve balance
Traversing Vata Season.
What is meant by Vata Season exactly? To answer this question, I need to give you a little extra background so that it can be better understood. When we start talking about Vata, Pitta, or Kapha we are talking about the 3 doshas and their qualities as defined by the science of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a science of mind, body soul, and senses. Ayurveda was developed together with Yoga and the two sciences influence each other and they are often referred to as “sister” sciences. Ayur means life and Veda means knowledge. This science of self-healing is based not only on the individual but nature as well and in Ayurveda humans are just part of nature. Ayurveda is referred to as the mother of medicine, and ironically there are some Ayurveda treatments that many will recognize are used in some variation today. Ayurveda is concerned with alleviating the body/mind of disease and promoting physical/psychological well-being. And in doing so achieving a high quality of life. The one key point of all of this that you need to know as we begin to talk about Vata season is this. Ayurveda recognizes that five elements in nature make up everything. The elements are earth, water, fire, air, and space. So, what’s a dosha? Doshas are forces, not substances. And it translates as what can go wrong believe it or not. Each of the 3 doshas are made up of a combination of 2 of the five elements and it’s those qualities of said elements that we are discussing when we apply a doshic label to a season. Vata is made up of air and space. Just so you know, we won’t be discussing them here, but I think it’s good to know the rest. Pitta is made up of Fire & Water and Kapha is made up of Earth & Water. At some point, I will delve further into the other 2, but for now, we’ll discuss Vata & Vata season because here in the Northeast US and the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, it's currently Vata season.
Vata season as defined by Ayurveda is later fall through late winter. It is one of the 3 seasons Ayurveda recognizes. During each of the seasons, the elements of the doshas are reflected and some of their aspects and characteristics of them are dominant. Here in the Northeastern US that translates as late October/November until near the end of February. I love explaining the qualities of the doshas using the seasons we have here where I am located in the Northeast, because they fit fairly well. So, knowing that Vata is made up of air and space we can understand that Vata deals with movement of all kinds, change, bursts of energy, and then utter lack of energy or fatigue. Qualities of Vata include dry, light, cold, mobile, subtle, and rough. Currently, we are in November and all of these qualities are shining through the weather. The weather is windy and dry, when it does rain it’s cold and the snow that has started to appear on and off is drier than the snow we see in the latter part of winter. When the snow begins to stick as it will when we get into December and January it will tend to be what is known at least here in Central New York State as “pushing snow” Even if it accumulates it is light enough to just push it without much struggle.
So how do we traverse this time of year? Keeping in mind, as I said we humans are made up of these elements, and we have aspects of all 3 doshas so depending on how much Vata we are made up of tells us how much Vata season will affect us. The more Vata the more the qualities and characteristics of the season affect us. Let’s take the quality of dryness for example. If you have a lot of Vata in you, this time of year you may have VERY dry skin. Myself, I am a Vata person and this time of year the dryness of the season makes my skin extremely dry. This is what is meant by a lot of Vata in an individual, Vata season affects a lot more than someone who doesn’t have as much Vata.
So, what sorts of things can we do to help offset these qualities of the season and help to work on keeping balance during these Vata months of the year? Well, to achieve balance in Ayurveda the precept is opposites create balance. So, looking at Vata's qualities of dryness, we’re looking for moisture, cold, warmth, mobile, stillness, and so on. During Vata season we need to work on being still and embodying some stillness and to be quiet for at least a short time each day. Grounding-type activities are important during Vata season. So, things like meditation, slow flow yoga, yin yoga. Staying warm, eating warm foods, and drinking warm liquids. These are all very important during Vata season. Using warming oils like sesame oil on the skin for dry and rough skin. Dry brushing your skin before showering or bathing to help with extremely rough dry skin. This helps to remove the flaky dry skin before bathing. Use of Nasya oil in the nose for keeping the nasal cavities moist which tends to dry out rather quickly as we begin to be inside more where it’s warm and the heat is on. Moisture in the nasal cavities allows the cilia to do its filtering job properly. It’s because of this added dryness that cold and flu-type viruses are able to take hold in the upper respiratory system and nasal cavities. The cilia are unable to filter properly because they need to be moist, and moisture is a minimum this time of year.
What do I recommend helping? I’m a Vata person, what do I do to calm my energies this time of year? Lots of slow-style yoga, and slower movements don’t aggravate Vata. Yin yoga, which is a passive, grounding style of yoga. Regular daily meditation and working to adhere to a routine and schedule to stay on track, which helps with grounding. Vata’s tend to be all over the place…. I describe my Vata imbalances as someone shaking a snow globe…chaotic. Dry brushing, Nasya oil, and sesame oil for the skin as it is warming and soothing at the same time. Eating soups and other warming foods…comfort foods I tell everyone. Those warm, cozy foods that seem to call to you this time of year. Root veggies and winter veggies like squash are wonderful as well. If you are working with the chakras, the energy centers of the body…working with the root or Muladhara and the Sacral or Svadhisthana chakras. Things that help balance these energies help to ground the body and the body’s energies as well.
Most importantly…listen to your body. We’ve lost this art of paying attention and listening to what our body is trying to tell us. Something smells good, something tastes good, these are clues to what your body is looking for. Craving food? Listen. Find it and eat some. Cold? Put something more on. Need a nap or want to take some time to be still? DO IT! Listen, the body does know what it needs, believe it or not! You’d be surprised if you aren’t someone who actively makes a point of listening to what the body is trying to tell you. The one lesson everyone should learn when they practice yoga and use Ayurveda to help treat the body and mind is to become aware of what the body has to tell us. FYI…it’s a lot!