Ayurvedic Pampering for Winter

Friday, July 02, 2010
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According to Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda (“Science of Life” in Sanskrit), everybody and everything is composed of three basic types of energy, or doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It is the interplay of these three energies that creates your personal constitution and determines your patterns of health and wellbeing.  Once you have diagnosed your personal constitution (which is best done by a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner), you can optimise your health by following a lifestyle that aims to balance that dosha to prevent illness and improve your overall wellbeing.

Winter is Vata time and, whatever your personal constitution, it's wise to follow a Vata pacifying lifestyle during the colder months.  Ayurveda tells us that Vata dosha is made up of the elements of Air and Ether and so many of us,  especially Vata types, suffer from ‘wind’ or dryness related conditions, ranging from dry skin and hair through to arthritis (‘wind’ in the joints in Eastern medicine). Vata energy governs elimination in the body and when the dosha becomes unbalanced we can experience digestive disorders, constipation and flatulence. Lung diseases such as emphysema and pneumonia and nerve disorders, including tics and twitches are also associated with an imbalance of Vata dosha.
 
Lifestyle tips to keep Vata dosha balanced
Vata is disturbed by too much movement, stimulation or noise, so make sure you have some quiet time every day to sit down and gather your thoughts without external intrusions. Drugs and stimulants are especially disturbing to Vata so avoid caffeine and tobacco. Sugar, frozen, cold or raw foods should be consumed in moderation or not at all. Salad may be a healthy food, but Vata people digest gently cooked food more easily – try lightly steamed veg instead. Think about traditional eating patterns - we usually associate stews, soups, casseroles and baked foods with winter. It's no coincidence that these are exactly the types of food that balance Vata dosha!  Eat plenty of healthy oils – think cold-pressed olive oil, avocados and oily fish. Finally, a Vata balancing yoga routine will help combat the symptoms of imbalanced Vat and leave you feeling much more grounded.

Vata Balancing Yoga Routine

1. Balasana (child pose)
Kneel on the floor and bring your forehead down to touch the mat. Bring your arms down by your sides. Rest here for 8 breaths.

2. Pascimottanasana (modified seated forward bend)
Sit on a folded blanket with your legs out in front of you. Bend the knees slightly and place a rolled blanket underneath them. Inhale to raise your arms over head. Exhale to fold forwards from the hips and bring the arms down to touch your shins, ankles or toes. Hold the pose for 8 breaths.

3. Jathara Parivartanasana variation (supine twist)
Lie on your back with your arms out at shoulder height. Bend your right knee into your chest. Exhale and twist over onto your left hip, bringing the right knee across towards the floor. Turn your head to look along your right arm. Hold the pose for 8 breaths then inhale to roll back to centre. Repeat on the other side.

4. Apanasana
Lie on your back and bend both knees up, bringing your feet off the floor. Place your hands on your kneecaps. Inhale and straighten your arms. Exhale and draw your knees in to your chest (abdominal muscles doing the work, hands just resting on the knees). Inhale, straighten your arms again, drawing your knees away from your body. Exhale to draw them back in. Repeat 4 times.

5. Savasana
Lie on your back with your arms by your sides, palms turned up to the ceiling and your eyes closed. It can be helpful to place a folded blanket under your head and a rolled blanket under your knees. Rest here for 3 minutes.

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