RESPECT YOUR VATA

"The key to managing all doshas is to care for vata." -David Frawley- We have had a very erratic entrance into winter this year in Buffalo. One day it is cold and crisp, with a hint of snow in the air, the next day, it is warm and sunny, smelling like spring. In yoga classes the past few weeks, there has been plenty of coughing, sneezing and nose-blowing. The flu season seems to have begun earlier than usual as well. While fall and most of winter are traditionally a "vata" time, I felt compelled to do some "therapeutic" asana classes, with the intention of balancing kapha. Kapha dosha accumulates in the chest, head and stomach, usually in the form of excess mucus. Because our unusual weather is mimicking spring,the kapha season, it seemed to make sense to work all of that sludge up and out with energetic asana and cleansing pranayama. The reality is that we are in the vata season. Dr. Carrie Demers' mantra is to "respect your vata." Vata is made up of air and ether, filling all of the spaces in the body. Vata tends to be dry, brittle and cold, just like fall and winter. Vata is hard-wired for change and David Frawley explains that the other doshas,pitta and kapha are incapable of movement without it. How can you take care of your vata? A recent email from my Ayurveda instructor, Kathryn Templeton, reminded me of these valuable tips. During this cold, dark season, we need to keep the body warm and well moisturized. Dressing properly for the elements is key, so too, is eating warm, moist food (eg.soup). Drink plenty of warming herbal teas and moisturize the body with a warming oil, such as sesame or triphala. The skin is the largest organ and it absorbs what you put on it through every one of its countless pores. A little dab of oil in the nostrils and ears is also a good idea. Feed your skin what you would put in your mouth. And, of course, ground your body, mind and spirit with regular asana, relaxation and meditation. These tips will help to keep you firmly grounded and balanced during this holiday season and beyond. In those moments when you begin to feel less than centered, remember the mantra "respect your vata"!