If you’re here on the Linha da Cascais, you’ll know that we’re suddenly in the middle of some blustery days (and my home town of Canberra is experiencing a windy week of Autumn too!) so it seems like a great time to remind everyone that wind is considered an important factor in Ayurvedic health.
In the West, we tend to disregard wind as being inconvenient or a bother but we don’t think of it as having an impact on our health, wellbeing and state-of-mind. However, in Ayurveda we recognise that wind is aggravating for Vata. And that’s because the mind-body dosha called Vata is made up of ‘space’ energy and ‘air’ energy. So Vata is incredibly light, nimble, open, flexible, able to change direction and get excited about new possibilities and ideas. At its best, it’s like a soft, spring breeze that dances, ever so lightly, across flower-filled meadows; so light, so alive, so happy to gracefully tip-toe over a particular flower patch and then seconds later, delight in the play of moving grass stems at the other end of the meadow; always moving, always changing, always light. However, precisely because of its ‘lightness of foot’, Vata is extremely susceptible to increases in wind movement. That light breeze delighting in the meadow is not grounded or attached to the earth in any way, and as soon as a strong movement of air comes, the ‘light breeze’ is completely picked up and carried by the stronger current of air. No matter how much the ‘light breeze’ might like to get back to its flower patch or blades of grass, it is now at the mercy of the stronger air current and experiencing all the turbulence that comes with it! What does that mean for those of us who have Vata in our mind-body mix? Well, it can mean, that at times like this when the wind is stronger, we feel disturbed, forgetful, unfocussed, absent-minded, vague, foggy, agitated, anxious, panicked, emotional, out-of-routine, cut-a-drift, lost, fatigued, unable to settle and distracted. So take a deep breath, it’s not that you are flaky or losing it!, it’s just a windy day!! And luckily, Ayurveda has heaps of practical actions those of us that are affected by wind can take to feel more grounded and protected. Firstly, Abhyanga (or daily self oil massage) has a wonderfully protective effect on the body and mind. One way to think about it is that as a Vata, we are very OPEN to the outside environment (because we are so light) and applying oil to the outer layer of the body (the skin) is like closing that openness to some degree. It’s like a protective layer of oil that becomes a shield when we are out there in the cut and thrust of the real world. (If you need a top up during the day, a foot rub is a great way to feel more grounded and get you breathing more deeply. So wherever you are, kick-off your shoes and nourish your feet and your groundedness with 5 minutes of foot therapy – and if you have access to sesame oil – even better!) Then, as much as possible, keep warm. Pack and extra layer in case it gets colder or windier this afternoon. Don’t let yourself be exposed to too much cold because Vata is naturally COLD, so we don’t need much before we feel REALLY cold! And cover your ears with a scarf, hood or hat. Ears are a Vata organ, so they especially effected by wind. Keeping them warm and still (protected from strong movements of air/wind) can really help to feel less scattered, forgetful and vulnerable. Finally, Vata is very responsive to shock. That is, when Vata gets a shock (or something unexpected) it is very fast to go out of balance and create more uncertainty and anxiety. So let’s take the ‘shock’ out of wind …
* it is really important - as Vata we are so open and giving to others that it is SUPER EASY to get depleted - so really listen to that inner energy source and make sure it's still and full before 'getting out there again' :) I hope this helps you feel more settled and powerful on windy days and feel free to contact me if you want more ideas.
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AuthorI'm an Ayurvedic Life Coach, Teacher and Massage Therapist living on the 'Linha de Cascais' in Portugal. I love sharing Ayurveda and appreciation of Life with others. Archives
April 2020
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