To find out more about Ayurveda and Siddha medicine and body types, go to About Ayurveda & Siddha Medicine.

About Type A - Vata

Vata’s elemental makeup consists of air and ether (space or vacuum). The common translation of Vata is “that which moves things.” Vata is often referred to as the vayu (wind) in the body, and it is the primary motivating force of the doshas—without it, the other doshas are unable to move.

Vata is responsible for our mental and physical adaptability. It is the energising force of the body and mind, and it governs the activities of our nervous system, our bones, our senses of touch and hearing and the process of elimination.

If Vata dosha predominates, movement and change are characteristic of your nature. You tend to always be on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. As long as Vata is in balance, you will be lively and enthusiastic, with a lean body.

Those with a predominance of Vata dosha usually have a thin, light frame and excellent agility. Their energy comes in bursts and they may experience sudden bouts of fatigue.

Vatas typically have dry skin and hair and cold hands and feet. They sleep lightly and their digestion can be sensitive. When the Vata dosha becomes imbalanced, it manifests in the body as weight loss, constipation, hypertension, arthritis, weakness, restlessness, and digestive challenges.

Vatas love excitement and new experiences. They are quick to anger but also to forgive.

When Vatas are in balance, they are energetic, creative, and flexible. They also take initiative and are lively conversationalists.

When unbalanced, they are prone to worry and anxiety and often suffer from insomnia. When they feel overwhelmed or stressed, their response is, “What did I do wrong?” Vata's tend to blame themselves for all difficulties. 

Habits to Balance Vata

• Try to wake before 7am and go to bed before 10pm.
• If you are able to wake at 4am, it is the ideal time for you to meditate. Just spend a few moments with your eyes closed, just paying attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. Suitable Meditation Techniques will be shared with you over the next few weeks.
• Cleanse the mouth and teeth with a gentle toothpaste. Massage your gums with sesame oil or ghee. You may experience problems with receding or bleeding gums - massage of gums will help eradicate these. 
• If you don’t exercise regularly then you may with mild exercise like our I-Yoga Gentle Morning Yoga Sequence. After practicing this sequence for a week, you may replace it with I-Yoga Sun Salutation. Initially complete 6 cycles and build yourself up to 24 cycles of the I-Yoga Sun Salutation. This sequence takes between 6 and 15 minutes to complete. 
• After Yoga, gently rub a dry wash cloth across your skin rather than a brush or loofah to exfoliate and stimulate circulation. Then gently massage your skin focusing on dry areas with sesame oil mixed with a few drops of rose geranium prior to showering. Moisturise skin as usual after showering.
• Use water as hot as you can tolerate for showering or bathing.
• The colours that we wear have an effect on our mood. Colours that help balance Vata are: yellow, orange, and red. There is no need to wear an entire outfit in these colours but treat yourself to a winter scarf if you do not already have one in this colour.
• During cold, damp weather keep your neck, chest and head covered – this is where the scarf and matching hat comes in handy.
• For you breakfast is the most important meal. If it is difficult for you to have an early or good breakfast then start your day with a non-caffeinated nourishing tea with milk, natural sweetener and warming spices like ginger, cardamom, coriander, clove, fennel, cinnamon. Our Redbush Chai Recipe is perfect for you.
• Vata Skin tends to be very fine and can feel dry. It is particularly important for you to take good care of your skin. The Rejuvenating Face Mask is a wonderful product for you. It is nutrient rich and hydrating and has the ability to rehydrate skin over night. If you are very dry, use the Rejuvenating Face Mask at night as directed, twice weekly. 
• Vata skin is very fine and delicate. It is therefore more prone to showing the signs of ageing early. To counter this - use the Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum morning and evening as directed. This product is based on the ancient Indian science of Rasayanatantra. It helps rebuild the skin from within, creating younger firmer more beautiful skin. To maintain youthful skin this is the go to product for Vata's.

Your Lean Jan Detox Plan Food List 

These are the items that you can eat on a regular basis during the program. 

You may download your Personalised Lean Jan Detox Plan.

Fruit:

Cantaloupe and other melons,

Coconut,

Dates

Fresh figs,

Grapes,

Mangoes,

Papayas,

Peaches,

Persimmons,

Sweet plums,

If some of these fruit are not available to you fresh, you may used dried fruit. Just soak the fruit overnight: dried coconut, figs, raisins, prune, dates and all nuts need to be soaked overnight before consuming.

The reheated fruit may be added to your Vata Detox Breakfast Porridge or your may create a little snack box contain 50 gram reheated fruit and 30 grams nuts to snack on in the morning.

Vegetable:  it is important that you cook all vegetable before eating during this program. Vegetable may be sautéed or steamed. 

Beets,

Carrots,

Jerusalem Artichokes,

Okra,

Sweet potatoes

Yams,

Turnips,

Winter squashes,

Other squashes,

Kale,

Spinach 

Raw Tomatoes and Cucumbers only allowed on very on warm days.

Grains:

Rice (brown or basmati)

Whole grain oats 

You need to avoid wheat as it is difficult for you to digest and may be inflammatory for your bowels.

Kichadi or Kichari is your best cleansing food during the detox plan – this is a Blend of Basmati or Brown Rice, Mung Bean, and spices.  Eat this as often as you can. If possible have it for dinner every evening during the plan. You may change the flavour by adding different sautéed veg or warming spice. 

Animal Products:

Try to avoid these during a cleanse as they are difficult to digest and slow down metabolism. If you are unable to avoid animal protein - then only seafood that is low in mercury is allowed. Find a list of Low Mercury Fish.

Dairy Products: Avoid dairy if you can. But if you need to replace animal protein in your diet during this detox plan - Use fermented dairy like

Yogurt,

Curd,

Quark and

Kefir,

Choose organic and grass-fed milk sources.

 

Legumes: Avoid all legume apart from

Mung beans,

Miso (fermented soy bean)

Puy Lentils

Tempeh (made from fermented soy or other bean)

Oils: Use only ghee or sesame oil for cooking. Sesame oil is good for body and gum massage. You can add a few drops of rose geranium essential oil to the sesame oil that you use for body massage. This will make your bath smell wonderful and aroma-therapeutic effect of these oils will soothe body and mind.

Nuts and Seeds: You can eat any nut as replacement for animal protein. Do use a variety of nuts and and consumer not more than 30 grams of nuts per day. Choose this year’s fresh crop, not rancid old nuts.  Use up this years Christmas nuts – last years need to be sown as seed.

Sweeteners: Only small amounts of the following sweeteners are allowed during the LJDP

Rice syrup,

Agave nectar,

Molasses

Beverages:

Warmed rice milk, almond milk,

Redbush Masala Chai or

Herbal teas – made from Fennel Tea, Ginger Tea

Herbal Remedies

If you tend towards severe constipation, you may use the Ayurvedic Herbal Complex called Triphala. Take 1 capsule before each meal. Triphala should be available at most health food stores or online. Buy an organic brand.

You may download your Personalised Lean Jan Detox Plan.