Vata वात
Air and space
You are naturally imaginative, quick-thinking and full of ideas. Vata is the energy of movement: breath, circulation, thought and communication.
When Vata is balanced you feel inspired, light, enthusiastic and flexible.
When it's out of balance, you may feel restless, scattered, worried or tired, and sleep can become light.
Daily-routine ideas for Vata
- Favour warm, cooked, moist meals: soups, khichdi, stews, cooked vegetables
- Ayurveda traditionally favours sweet, sour and salty tastes for Vata
- Use warming spices: ginger, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel
- Eat at regular times, and sit down to eat
- Sip warm water through the day
- Keep the same wake, meal and sleep times every day
- A warm sesame-oil self-massage (abhyanga) before bathing
- Be in bed by about 10 PM
- Keep travel, screens and multitasking in check
- Gentle, rhythmic movement: yoga, walking, swimming, tai chi
- Short sessions are better than exhausting ones
- Alternate-nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) for a few minutes a day
- Restorative yoga or yoga nidra a few times a week
- Give your ideas structure: a planner and time blocks
- 10–20 minutes of meditation or quiet breathing daily
- Time near trees, gardens or water
- A few lines in a journal before bed
- Cold, raw and dry foods, and iced drinks
- Skipping meals and irregular sleep
- Late-night screens and constant stimulation
- Over-committing your calendar
Healy programs that suit Vata
Start with one or two a day. Program names are as they appear in the Healy app and are not statements concerning their effects.
- VataThe Power of ThreeEvolve and up
- RelaxGold CycleAll editions
- Emotional WellbeingMental BalanceAll editions
- Pure CalmDeep CycleEvolve and up
- Root ChakraChakrasEvolve and up
Not sure which edition has these? Compare the Healy editions.