If you have never read or heard about the Ayurveda body types, firstly we recommend going to the article “Vata, Pitta or Kapha? Test Your Body Constitution!”.  Then you can come back and explore more…

The General Characteristics of Vata

You are probably slim, fragile, with delicate, thin limbs and dry skin. Your body weight is naturally low, and what is more, you hardly ever put on extra weight, even if you are trying hard! You also like sour, sweet and salty food, with a distinctive taste. Your daily routine practically does not exist, unless you force yourself under a daily schedule. Therefore, you get hungry suddenly, it does not matter whether it is day or night; your digestion can be perfect on one day and another day constipation and bloating spoil everything.

You can compare your energy level to a violent but short storm; you act rapidly, as if you were suddenly jumping forward. You are a lively and hot-tempered person, but very creative and social. You burst out with new ideas, speak them out loud  and influence others to follow you.

Sensitivity imprints on your character very much, so that you react almost to everything what is going on around you, both with great enthusiasm or depression. Unfortunately, you are prone to worrying about minute things. You do well with learning new information, but on the other hand, you forget it very quickly, as if the wind were constantly blowing the knowledge out from your head. Your sleep is very shallow; however you experience no problems with falling asleep. You also hate loud noise.

What makes Vata unwell?

Too much activity and not enough rest & relaxation (Vata people have a tendency to repeat this mistake all the time…)

Too much alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and sweets

Sudden changes in life

Physical exhaustion and mental burnout

Missing meals

 Too much cold, raw and dry food

Too little sleep

Cold and windy weather

Travelling

As a result Vata people often suffer from:

Body shivering (a kind of muscle exhaustion which is often gotten by climbers)

Occasional spasms of muscles

Panic attacks

Nervous burnout

Mental disintegration

Sleep problems

Dry skin, brittle nails, dry tongue

Constipation

Digestion problems

Weight-losing tendency

Dizziness

High blood pressure

Pains and aches of joints and nerves

How to help Vata?

If you have a Vata type body, here are a few basic tips you can follow to calm down your Vata and improve your health:

Sleep enough time, the best would be 8 hrs every night; and try to go to bed before midnight, around 10 o’clock.

Rest and relax as often as you feel that you need it. Do not push yourself too much.

Regulate your everyday life as much as it is possible (you may feel it is against your nature, but try anyway and enjoy the results)

When you are just about to have your bedroom painted, choose light green color which soothes Vata

Practise such sports as: Hatha-yoga, walks, cycling, light aerobics, slow dancing (e.g. ballet)

Sleep on your left side