Ayurveda is one of the oldest forms of healing and curing. It focuses on the betterment of the physical and mental health of the body. The holistic well being of an individual is the combination of physical, psychological and spiritual health. According to some practitioners of Ayurveda, the personality and health of an individual are determined by the type of bodily humour or a person’s dosha.
Ayurveda is commonly called the “science of life” but many people don’t believe this. Though Ayurveda translates to “the science of life” in English, many health professionals question the belief of personal doshas due to a lack of scientific proof. What is Vata? is an interesting query especially for those who regularly practise Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic medicine
is completely based on the idea that the world is made up of five elements namely space, water, earth, fire and air. A combination of each of these elements results in three touches of humour or chiefly called doshas. The three doshas known are the Vata, Kapha, and Pitta dosha. These doshas are believed to be responsible for a person’s physiological, mental, and emotional health. Though there’s little evidence to prove the legitimacy of doshas, many proponents of Ayurveda point to a lack of studies and funding on the subject. Rather than discrediting the practice, they believe more research should be done to support its efficacy.
Vata consists mostly of the two elements air and space also known as ether and is generally described as cold, light, dry, rough, flowing, and spacious. Autumn represents Vata for its cool, crisp days. Those with the Vata dosha are usually described as slim, energetic, and creative. They’re known for thinking outside the box but can become easily distracted. What’s more, their mood is highly dependent on the weather, people around them, and the foods they eat.
The strengths of having this are learning quickly, being highly creative, multitasker, kind-hearted, flexible, “on the go,” naturally slim. The weaknesses include forgetfulness, anxiety, and unstable mood, can get overwhelmed easily, being highly sensitive to the cold, having trouble sleeping, irregular appetite and eating patterns, being prone to digestive issues and gas, poor circulation.
According to Ayurveda, for optimal health, a Vata-dominant person should follow a regular daily routine, manage stress through meditation and other calming activities, and maintain a warm body temperature by avoiding cold weather and consuming warm foods and drinks. These doshas are predictions to determine the characteristics of a person. For those who practice Ayurveda Vata is an integral component to understand.
