Ground down to rise up.
The wind is rustling the leaves from its trees...fall is here...so enjoy these cool and colorful days with Vata pacifying morning yoga poses to strengthen circulation and elimination. Begin with a warming, grounding, and, stablizing yoga practice to balance the cool-dry-mobile element of Vata. Walk away feeling released tension in lower abdomen, peaceful mind, grounded, and emotionally stable with space and energy for meditation.
VATA DOSHA BALANCING ACT
Vata is one of the three Ayurvedic doshas or biological energies found in the body and mind and derives from the elements of air and ether.
During the early fall and winter, Vata can accumulate in the colon, low spine, hips, thighs, bones, and nerves manifesting within the body as constipation, flatulence, dry skin, insomnia, arthritis or sciatica. The key to pacify Vata is to remain grounded, warm and stable. When out of balance emotionally, the light quality of Vata provokes fear, anxiety, loneliness and insecurity. When Vata is in balance, the Vata person experiences excellent health, stability, creativity, and freedom.
TIPS FOR PACIFYING VATA
Here are some practical suggestions for balancing the Vata dosha during the seasonal changes that occur in fall and late winter:
1. ASANA
Upon awakening, do some gentle yoga asanas, including Virasana, Apanasana, Cat-Cow, Bhujanghasana, Surya Namaskra, Vrksasana, Salabhasana and, Jathara Parivartanasana. The emphasis throughout your practice can be on softening your lower abdominal cavity, grounding your feet into the earth, building strength and stability, and allowing yourself sufficient rest after your practice.
2. PRANAYAMA
Cultivate a continuous Ujjayi Pranayama while focusing on the inhalation to move the breath downward towards the lower belly, pelvis and pelvic floor to promote warmth, stimulation, circulation and to ground you in the poses. Practice Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril) breathing prior to meditation.
3. MEDITATION
A regular meditation practice assists in quieting, centering, and grounding the active Vata mind. So-Hum meditation can help steady the mind throughout your asana practice or sitting in stillness with your breath – here the sound “So” on your inhale and “Ham” on your exhale.
4. MASSAGE
Give yourself a slow and loving full body massage before taking a shower or bath. As a base, use sesame oil, which is warming and deeply nourishing. Essential oils of jatamamsi, ginger, lavender or rosewood can be added to further enhance healing benefits.
5. TEA
Drink a warm tea of fresh ginger, cardamom and cinnamon to warm the body and enhance circulation and digestion.
6. FOODS
Eat foods that are warming, grounding, predominately cooked, sweet, salty and sour and in season. Avocados, bananas, mangoes, peaches, lemons, asparagus, carrots, beets, pumpkins, quinoa, mung beans, almonds, sesame seeds and ghee are a few excellent food choices for a Vata person. Sipping warm water and herbal teas throughout the day enhances warmth and hydration. Vatas love to graze throughout the day. Due to their variable appetite, it is favorable for them to create a routine around eating.
7. CLOTHING
Wear clothing that is soft in texture and warm in color such as; cotton, linen and wool of red, orange and yellow shades.
8. NATURE
Calm the mobile body and active mind by taking daily peaceful walks in Nature or tend to your garden, create art and music and write in your journal. Be sure rest between activities.
VATA PACIFYING YOGA POSES
Pacifying Vata during the cool/dry fall-winter seasons requires living in harmony with the inherent rhythms of Nature and observing patience and compassion with ourselves, others, and the environment.
Practice this mini-yoga sequence upon awakening each day; Apanasana (Knees to Chest Post), Core Leg Openers, Modified Salabhasana (Locust with Alternate Arm/Leg Lifts), and Twisted Balasana (Child’s Pose with a twist) with a focus Ujjayi Pranayama breathing down into the lower belly and moving out any trapped air or heat that accumulates in the large intestines to promote proper elimination and digestion. The emphasis throughout this practice can be on softening your lower abdominal cavity, grounding your feet into the earth, building strength and stability, and allowing yourself sufficient rest after your practice.
To learn more about yoga and Ayurveda, join me for my weekly in-person and online classes.
