6 Tips for Balancing During Vata Season

Did you know that seasonal changes can cause a dosha imbalance? Each of our three doshas are linked to a time of year. During those times, there is a natural increase in the dosha’s properties and we often need to adjust some of our habits to counterbalance. 

Vata season is associated with the fall and winter months. As the leaves fall, temperatures drop, and the chaos of the holiday season sets in, vata qualities spike. An excess of light, cooling and drying factors can leave us feeling anxious, scattered, and fearful. It also can have a physical effect, causing dry skin, chapped lips, and poor sleep quality. 

So, with an excess of these qualities, how do we bring vata back into balance? During fall and winter we can shift our focus to include more warming, grounding and calming activities in our daily routines. These don’t have to be drastic changes that require lots of time and effort. They can be simple! Our bodies tend to naturally crave balancing habits as the seasons change.  

Try any (or all!) of these 6 tips for balancing during vata season: 

Practice grounding and slow-moving exercises. One of Vata’s key characteristics is its lightness. With an excess of this during the fall and winter months, it is important to practice slow, grounding movements. Maybe you commit to practicing yoga for 10 minutes in the morning or switching some of your runs for walks. Vata season is an excellent time to slow down. 

Include more warming, nourishing foods in your diet. The cool air of fall and winter naturally cues our body to crave warming foods. These foods, such as soup, stews, and cooked vegetables, fight vata’s coolness by warming up our bodies.  

Swap your iced drink for a hot one. This one is simple! While we may love our iced coffee or tea, in order to keep our doshas in balance, fall and winter are a perfect time to switch the ice for some steam. Give it a shot next time you go to the coffee shop. 

Prioritize routine. To combat Vata’s erratic nature, it is best to prioritize a routine. Take small steps. Try focusing on eating breakfast at the same time every day or going to bed at the same time every night. Bringing more stability into your daily habits will help limit any anxious or racing thoughts that tend to spike during this time. 

Try abhyanga, an Ayurvedic oil massage. Balancing our doshas can even help with dry skin, a common winter complaint. Abhyanga is a massage done with hot oil, combatting both vata’s dry and cool qualities. It can be done by a professional or as a self-massage. Simply heat up about a ½ cup of abhyanga oil and apply head to toe, massaging into your body in circular motions. 

Meditate. Similar to the benefits of slow, grounding movement. Meditation helps settle the mind. Train your mind to slow down and begin to notice those scattered, worrying thoughts melt away. Practice with this 10 minute grounding guided meditation.