Dosha: Vata

Air and Space

Vata Dosha is the principle of movement in all living organisms and is a combination of the elements: air and space. Vata Dosha is closely related to the nervous system.
According to Ayurveda, the main characteristics of Vata Dosha in any person are:

CharacteristicsCan appear in the body as:

Mobility	Generally quick actions, fast walking and speech, restless eyes, likes travelling and often has mood swings.
Dryness	Dry body (including skin, hair and lips), an inclination towards constipation as a result of dryness.
Coldness	Dislike towards cold weather, generally cold feet and hands, an inclination towards poor blood circulation.
Lightness	Generally underweight, thin physique (bones and muscles), light sleeper.
Roughness	Rough and cracked skin, nails, hair feet and hand. Cracking joints.

Some of the bodily functions ruled by Vata Dosha are:

physical movement
respiration
starts activities and processes in the body
stimulation of Agni (digestive fire)
excretion
development of the embryo
sensory perception
speech
hearing
enthusiasm
creativity

The imbalance created by excess Vata Dosha can be exacerbated by:

stress, over-exertion, or pressure
irregular daily routine or irregular mealtimes
going to bed late
raw, cold or dry foods
coffee, tea, carbonated drinks or cigarettes
long journeys
cold, windy weather, especially in autumn or winter

Vata Dosha can be balanced by:

a regular daily routine, including sleep and meal times
regular relaxation
warm nourishing foods with sweet, sour and salty tastes
moderate alcohol intake
keeping warm in cold weather
Ayurvedic massages