Yoga Nidra, Meditation, Pranayam and Prayers
Yoga Nidra is the best way of balancing vata in the mornings. You can perform this while still lying in bed. Slowly touch each part of your body or call out quietly in your mind, “I relax my toes, I relax my feet, I relax my ankle and so on.” This process takes about five minutes but it is very effective after the first prayer in bed to calm the restless mind. This ensures that you are acknowledging every part of your body which aids in relaxing various limbs and organs.
Before leaving your bed sit upright for about five to twenty minutes and focus on your breathing or perform meditation. I find that meditation calms the nerves and mind. Deep breathing happens automatically after 20 minutes of meditation. After that I do pranayam (alternative nostril breathing). This can also be done in the evenings too before going to bed because it helps cleanse the meridians of the body and ensures peaceful sleep. It is a good time during morning meditation to listen to music (raga, melodies) or Sanskrit prayers. The prayers bring in a connection of the soul to the Supreme Soul and thus results in grounding vata and giving inspiration for the day.
Mantra Bath
Taking a bath should be a part of a daily routine especially in the morning. Bathing gets rid of dirt, sweat and tiredness, thus rejuvenating and cleansing the body and aura. Adding some mantras to the bathing water constitutes a ‘mantra bath’ which helps in purifying the soul. This can be done by invoking the presence of holy rivers like Ganga, Godavari, Sita or Saraswati, by reciting their names and touching the bath water. Mudras (hand gestures) are used to direct the positive energies of these mantras into the water. This is not merely a religious ritual but also backed by science. Proper method can be learnt from a Vedic priest. This method requires a bucket bath instead of rushed shower, thus saving gallons of waste water.
Calming essential oils can be added to bathwater. Sometimes coloured baths are used for healing various ailments. These are special colour therapy baths.
Oil Application to the Head and Body (Abhayanga)
Give your body a soothing oil rub with some warm sesame oil, essential oils can be added according to your preference. The skin, being the largest body organ immediately feels relaxed and calms the nerves. You can put a small amount of Brahmi or other flower scented oil on the centre of the head and rub it gently with your palm, if you prefer not to make the whole head oily.
Ear Drops (Karana Purana)
After the morning duties, an application of sesame oil in the ears called ‘karanapurana’ is done. Care needs to be taken to not harm the ear drums; hence the oil application in the ear should be done by dipping a Q-tip (cotton bud) in the oil and then gently rubbing it into the ear. A favourite essential oil can be added for better fragrance. This method is very beneficial before travelling in a modern vehicle like car, plane or train (or any fast vehicle). Speed travelling immediately creates vata imbalance because it is unnatural for the body to be moving very fast.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are also known as volatile oils or ethereal oils. Oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent or an essence of the plant.
Vata types need oils that help to ground, balance, and warm their dosha. Make use of perfumes that are made out of the fragrances of essential oils and natural scents. These fragrances soothe the senses and nerves and bring the feeling of joy, upliftment and freshness. They provide the body with vitality and help improve self esteem in addition to many other benefits, according to their properties. Recommended vata balancing oils are as follows: Amber, angelica, anise, basil, bergamot, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, coriander, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, jasmine, jatamansi, lavender, lemongrass, myrrh, neroli, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, sweet orange, tangerine, thyme, vanilla, vetiver and ylang ylang. Carrier oils like sesame, avocado, castor and coconut can be used to add a few drops of essential oil for daily use. These essential oils are brilliant for jet lag.
Gemstones
Gemstones also are composed of the five elements and have been used in the Indian system of healing for eons. They fortify the imbalance and bring the human body and mind to a state of homeostasis and harmony. Each gemstone has its own feature. For instance, emerald calms an aggravated mind, aquamarine helps sleeplessness, onyx and yellow sapphire is good for stabilizing emotions, yellow topaz and heliodor are used for a shy, introvert and self defeating person, ruby is used in case of painful joints. Red garnet helps in sudden weight loss.
Colours & Clothing
Dress to be comfortable. Wear clothes that are made of natural fibers like silk, cotton, wool or linen. It is good to choose vata balancing colors. Colours play an important role in healing the body both mentally and physically. Natural fibers absorb and attract positive energies whereas synthetics interfere and create static electricity. All shades of red, orange, yellow and browns are warm and compatible for vata types on the body. Shades of green can also be helpful. Best to avoid white, violet, and blue since like attracts like and vata is represented by those colours which are considered higher frequency colors which bring in the opposite effects to grounding.
Colours & Environment
Honour your space. Create a safe, calm and secure environment at home and at work. Turn your space into a sanctuary that truly nourishes you. Live plants, greenery and flowers, uplift the mood and calm the nerves. It is also noted that working and living in surroundings with calm and peaceful colours increases productivity and ensures harmony. Gold and browns are used for grounding. Yellow, orange and earthy warm colours will balance vata. Greens will bring peace and calmness. Avoid bright red because of its stimulating effects.
Feng Shui, the Chinese technique of Vastu is very helpful for health and general wellbeing from all aspects.
Yantras & Mandalas
Very often yantras and mandalas are used for balancing doshas. These are called sacred geometry. Many researchers have found the healing effects of mandalas to be available simply by looking at them.
In Vedic times every home used to have a newly drawn fresh mandala with organic herbal dyes, grains or flowers at the doorstep daily. This system is still current in South India. Mandalas are known for expansion of the mind, strengthening one’s intellect, balancing various organs in the body besides many other social and spiritual benefits. Modern medical science has found a similar technique of symmetrical drawings to help avoid Alzheimer’s disease in old age.
Yajnas (Small Fire Sacrifices at home)
Yajnas are performed by adding ghee (clarified butter) and some grains in an organized, contained small fire in a vessel called yajna kund along with reciting Sanskrit mantras. Sometimes they are called Homas. Yajnas are usually performed by Brahmans on various samskar days like birthdays, anniversaries, starting and finishing of school and college education, and entering a new home etc. Metaphysical sciences have proven that the smoke from yajnas because of the combined sanskrit sound vibration have tremendous healing powers. Yajnas give social and spiritual benefits in a person’s life. Many western people are presently performing these mini yajnas individually daily in their homes because of these benefits. Although most people understand these to be solely religious rituals. They have yet to understand the scientific and health benefits derived as is being gradually revealed by many Vedic Educational Institutes.