Vata: The Dosha of Life

Vata is the principle of mobility that regulates all activity in the body. It is this energy that governs the movement of everything from our own thoughts to the food in our intestines. Vata is responsible for creativity, speech, inspiration, excitement, adventure, happiness and joy.

A Vata-dominant person is often on the move, and brimming with creative thoughts and ideas.

He or she will eagerly start new projects, and revel in collaboration, discussion, and contemplation. However, when those energies become imbalanced, the Vata person may forget to eat, become scattered, overwhelmed, anxious, eventually crashing from exhaustion. While thoughts in the head speed up, movement in the bowels may come to a grinding halt.

Vata energy needs gentle coaxing to bring it down to earth where the beautiful vata ideas can take root and thrive. Ayurvedic oil massages such as abhyanga and shirodhara are recommended: they quench dry vata skin and calm anxious nerves. Simple lifestyle adjustments and rejuvenative herbs are often recommended to revitalize depleted tissues and add stature to the slender vata frame.