Balancing Your Vata Dosha with Yoga

The Vata dosha, the combination of air and water elements, tends to be thin, creative, and energetic. Of the three dosha constitutions — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — the Vatas can become a creaky jointed, itchy, cold, anxious mess without the proper balance of food, yoga, and lifestyle choices.

There are plenty of ayurvedic resources and practitioners available for a deep dive into these universal elements as they pertain to you. For now, this is a quick primer for the Vata dosha.

Here are a few techniques to offer balance when the Vata type goes a little haywire.

Yoga Sequence

1. Start in Tadasana for grounding and preparing yourself to linger in poses a little longer than usual.
2. Utilize the Classic Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara A and B) about five times each.
3. When transitioning from Namaskara B to Warrior II, actively rest in this pose (each side) for more extended periods, even ten breaths.
4. Transition to Triangle Pose to go deep and long. Emphasize the holding and the longer breaths.
5. Move through Extended Side-Angle Pose, then to Eagle Pose on each side.
6. Let go and then engage in the glorious Wide-Stance Forward Bend. And chill in release for ten breaths.
7. Reset to Tadasana with a sequence of Namaskara A to follow.
8. Transition to Crescent Lunge and move into Warrior III.