Vata Self-care Rituals
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Vatas are the love of the party... impulsive, creative and with a seemingly endless amount of energy. But when they are not in balance, then can quickly begin to feel drained and experience nervousness and anxiety. The elements that make up Vata are air and ether and this dosha is characterised by qualities such as light, dry, rough, cold, moving and subtle. These qualities translate into things like cracking joints, difficulty maintaining weight, cold hands and feet and restlessness or nervousness. Creating nurturing rituals is a wonderful way to help balance out the dominance of Vata and can create more balance in your life generally.
Morning Ritual
Sleep routine is important for Vatas who can tend to become anxious with a lack of sleep
Wake up at 6am just before the sun rises
Start your day with a glass of warm water with honey and ginger to help warm and stimulate your system
Stand on the ground barefoot for 5 minutes – feel the earth, sand or grass under your feet and ground yourself before the overload of technology
Allow some time for pranayama – even 10 minutes will be beneficial
If you feel you don’t have time to do all of this before the day starts, then perhaps wake up 15 minutes earlier. You just need 15 minutes to centre yourself before starting the rest of the day
Evening Ritual
Start to wind down around 9pm
Turn off electronic devices
Light some candles and listen to some relaxing music
Take a warm bath
Try to be asleep by 10pm; Vatas need at least 8 hours of sleep
Exercise Ritual
Vata types need only very light exercise and need to avoid high impact sports
Yoga and tai chi are very good for balancing this dosha
Self-Massage Ritual
Vata types tend to be dry and rough, so massage is an amazing way to nourish the body and joints. Abhyanga self-massage is an excellent way to help balance the Vata dominance. This is the traditional full body Ayurvedic massage... starting at the tip of the head and working down the body until you reach the feet. Use some warmed Vata Oil rubbed in a circular motion. Leave the oils on for at least 20 minutes before showering off
If you don’t have time for a full body massage, then a foot massage can be amazing at the end of the day... the foot is full of reflex points and you can activate the whole-body from massaging the feet
It is important to use a massage oil specifically blended to pacify your Vata dosha; the Vata Oil I use is a blend of sesame oil, turmeric, nut grass, mimosa and vetiver, to help nourish the skin maintaining vitality and softness. This oil is lightly scented with rosewood, lavender and ylang ylang... perfect to relax and nurture the body and mind.
In order for self-care to be effective we need to make it a daily ritual or routine. Our lives are becoming busier and busier and we need to self-care more to maintain balance and wellness. We create balance by maintaining routines that pacify our own unique dosha.
If you are able to, try to make time at least once a month for an extra special time of self-care... book a Body Ritual or a Facial Ritual, specific to the Vata dosha...
The Vata Body Ritual
A fusion of massage, sound, and healing, drawing from the wisdoms of both Eastern and Western practices, bringing together ancient and modern therapies. The ritual melds remedial massage, Ayurveda, Reiki, chakra balancing, energy healing and acupressure to bring you back into balance, restoring and renewing your prana. This deeply nourishing treatment incorporates the use of the warm, nurturing Vata Oil Blend.
The Vata Facial Ritual
Personalised to the Vata dosha and tailored to provide a deeply relaxing and sensory journey. Incorporating the healing energy of Ayurvedic wisdom into a fluid facial treatment that will work subtly on the energetic body, as well as the physical, leaving you feeling grounded, nourished and balanced. The Vata Facial Ritual will focus on deeply hydrating and re-mineralising the skin, stimulating cell renewal with warming and nourishing Ayurvedic herbs such as ginger, cumin and black pepper. The increase in firmness and elasticity will diminish the appearance of fine lines and leave your skin with a youthful glow.
To find out your dosha and to book a corresponding balancing Body Ritual or Facial Ritual please call 0433 090 696.
