The Vata Woman
The Free Spirited Artist - She will open your Heart, Mind & Soul
Vata dosha is composed of the elements Space & Air and, as such, many of the characteristics are related to lightness and dryness.
Characteristics of The Vata Woman
She has supreme creativity & is mentally quick
She is highly imaginative
She is quick to learn & grasp new knowledge, but also quick to forget
Sexually, she is easily excitable, but quickly satiated
She is slender and is the lightest of the three body types
She talks & walks quickly
She has a tendency toward cold, dry hands & feet and feels discomfort in cold climates
She is excitable, lively and has a fun personality
Her moods are changeable
She has an Irregular daily routine
Her appetite & digestive efficiency are variable - sometimes hungry, sometimes not. Sometimes quick, sometimes slow
She has high energy in short bursts and a tendency to tire easily & to over exert herself
She is full of joy & enthusiasm when in balance
She responds to stress with fear, worry & anxiety, especially when out of balance
She has a tendency to act on impulse
She is often having racing, disjointed thoughts
Generally, she has dry skin & dry hair and she doesn’t need much deodorant!
Her health vulnerabilities might include headaches, hypertension, dry coughs, sore throats, ear ache, anxiety, irregular heart rhythms, muscle spasms, lower back pain, constipation, abdominal gas, diarrhoea, nervous stomach, menstrual cramps, sexual dis-functions, arthritis. Most neurological disorders & also pain in the body are related to Vata imbalance.
Physical Features
Vata women are generally physically underdeveloped. Their chests are flat and their veins, muscles and tendons are visible. Their complexion is brown, the skin is cold, rough, dry and cracked.
Vata women generally are either above averagely tall or below averagely short, with thin frames which reveal prominent joints and bones, due to poor muscle development. Hair is usually thin and dry. The eyes may be sunken, small, dry, and active. The nails are rough and brittle. The shape of the nose can often be slightly bent or crooked, even if never broken.
Physiologically, the appetite and digestion are variable. Vata women love sweet, sour and salty tastes and like hot drinks. The production of urine is scanty and the faeces are dry, hard and small in quantity. They have a tendency to perspire less than other constitutional types. Their sleep may be disturbed and they will sleep less than the other types. Their hands and feet are often cold.
Psychologically, they are characterized by short memory but quick mental understanding - so they will understand something immediately, but will soon forget it! They have little will-power, tend toward mental instability and possess little tolerance, confidence or boldness. Their reasoning power is erratic and these women can be nervous, fearful and afflicted by much anxiety when out of balance.
Vata women tend to earn money quickly and also to spend it quickly!
To pacify Vata, especially during Autumn & early Winter which is Vata season, read my blog on Ayurveda for Autumn
My 3 Top Tips to Pacify Vata
1) Favour the tastes Sweet, Sour & Salty. The taste of Sweet is Sattvic in nature. It is a combination of Water & Earth and is very nourishing, soothing and satisfying to Vata types. Think sweet fruits and sweet root veg, cooked oats, rice, dairy and honey. Sour is a combination of Fire & Earth and is quite Rajasic in nature but it is wonderful at increasing appetite and producing saliva. It increases thirst which encouarges Vata types to drink and rehydrate! Salty is a combination of Water & Fire and is heavy, hot and moist in it's qualities. It is wonderful for increasing body heat, which Vata types will adore.
2) Consume warm, moist, heavy foods and well spiced drinks. Avoid skipping meals and do not fast! When we look at food in Ayurveda, we look not just at the 'taste' but also at its properties, post-diegstive effect, thermal quality and any special effects it may have. As Vata dosha is formed of the elements Space & Air, which are dry, light, cold and mobile, we need to use foods with opposing qualities to pacify it. Think warming, nourishing, and grounding foods like sweet fruits (warmed and spiced), root veggies, warm one-pot wonders, warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cumin & salt, rice, cooked oats and dairy (warmed and spiced). Avoid caffiene as it's too stimulating to the central nervous system.
3) Begin a practice of Self-Abhyanga NOW! Introduce a daily, warm, full body oil massage using sesame or sweet almond oil. Add to this essential oils which are sweet, soothing, warming and grounding - try lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, ylang ylang, cedarwood and frankincense.