Vata, Vata, Vata - What's One to do?

Yes, Vata Season is in full swing here in Colorado. The wind is blowing. The air is cold. And the ground is very, very dry. Many have complained of the wind over the past few days driving them (and their animals, too) nuts. If that's been your experience, too, you’re not alone. It is natural to feel unsettled, uncomfortable, or uneasy when conditions are cold, dark, and windy. Our skin dries out, our sleep becomes more restless, and it's hard to focus. The good news is… there are simple things you can do today to counteract the effects of the Vata Season.

In order to navigate the first few months of the year well, and set yourself up for a great spring, you’ll be wise to implement a few of these simple self-care practices now.

Here are my suggestions for how you can calm the unsettled effect the Vata dosha has.

• Take a time out. Vata is exacerbated through movement (anything faster than a leisurely walk is stimulating to the vata dosha), through rushing, and from a jam packed schedule. Where can you carve some rest into your day? While it might seem ironic, doing so may help you sleep better at night, too.
• Up your consumption of good oils. Consider adding ghee or coconut oil to your coffee or tea. Cook with more butter. Play around with other healthy oils, too, like avocado or sunflower oil. Another technique is to oil your skin. If you can, warm a small amount of some sesame oil and apply it to your whole body about 15 minutes before you shower. Let it soak in. And then, once in the shower and while the warm water is running over you, gently massage that oil into your skin even more (Oil + + warm water + friction = clean. No need to apply drying soaps to your skin.) *** The oil will penetrate the layers of skin, and seep into your muscles and organs. It’s amazing how deeply dryness can penetrate our body. Oiling (abhyanga) is a soothing practice with ancient roots. And… it is an amazing way to calm your entire nervous system.
• Keep a regular routine. Vata becomes elevated with a whacky schedule. The more out of whack we become, the wackier everything becomes. So if you can crawl into bed around the same time most every night, and wake up about the same time every day, you’d counteract the wackiness. Consider oiling the soles of your feet, too, as part of your nighttime routine. That alone will facilitate better sleep.
• Come in for regular reiki energy treatments. Reiki is the transmission of life force energy to be used by the recipient in ways that are most suitable for that particular person. The energy can heal, uplift, balance, or soothe.
• Participate in our weekly group classes to destress and anchor your energies, and join us for yoga nidra whenever you can! Enjoy the community support in these group activities.

 
Interested in learning more? Please click here and schedule a private consultation with me. I develop unique and individual wellness prescriptions that effectively address doshic imbalances.
 
Here’s to a happy, healthy, and harmonious New Year.
  ~Sharon Harvey Alexander, C-IAYT

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