Below, we will take a closer look at signs that Vata may be increasing, and at some ways to adjust your lifestyle and daily routine to correct for imbalances.

Signs that you need to balance Vata

• You feel more worried, anxious, or overwhelmed
• You find it difficult to sit still, can’t stay with one activity for any period of time
• You feel tired but find yourself unable to slow down and relax
• You have increased abdominal gas, bloating, elimination is irregular with constipation
• Your memory is very short-term, and attention span very short
• You have difficulty falling or staying asleep at night
• Your skin is drier than usual, your nail and/or hair is brittle, or cracked/split
• Your lips become chapped easily, throat is dry and hoarse

Ways to adjust Dinacharya (Daily Routine) for Vata (or Vata Season)

• A strict and very regular routine is essential.  Going to bed early enough for a minimum of eight hours of sleep, and rising at the same time each morning (generally by 6am) is recommended
• Likewise, mealtimes should be at regular times each day, so that they are predictable.  A hearty, nourishing lunch is the largest meal of the day, breakfast and dinner should be warming and fresh, but smaller in quantity.
• Ayurvedic massage (Abhyanga) helps to soothe dry skin, promote circulation and calm the nervous system; Can be administered by a licensed therapist on a regular basis, and maintained with self-massage in the mornings before bathing
• Daily elimination conditions the digestive system and keeps ama (partially digested food) from accumulating in the tissues
• Stay warm by dressing in layers, and avoiding prolonged exposure to cool winds
• 20 minutes or more of meditation, or meditative movement (yoga, tai chi) each day can help to reconnect to the body, and ground you; avoid running, jumping and other highly stimulating forms of activity

Related posts:

1. Importance of Daily Routine according to Ayurveda
2. Stress and Rebalancing from an Ayurvedic Perspective
3. Ayurvedic Tips for Surviving Pitta Season

Gin Brunssen

Ayurveda is a 5,000 (yes, five thousand) year old life science and wellness tradition. Ayu – means life, Veda means science.

“The philosophy of Ayurveda is simple: we all, without exceptions, have the birthright to be healthy. Nobody should ever have less than a vibrant healthy life.” – explains Gin Brunssen, BS, LMBT, the founder of Ayurvedic Bodywork Center in Raleigh, NC.

Talking to an Ayurveda practitioner is sometimes absolutely puzzling for a first comer. As somebody once put it: “You come with a health problem, answer questions for an hour, and leave with the shopping list and a schedule”.

Ayurveda is a lifestyle in which appropriate food, regular exercises, and massages keep your body in the best working condition.

Gin is trained in Ayurvedic and Neuromuscular massage, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy massage, and Rossiter Technique.

She never dreamed of becoming a massage therapist or learning about Ayurveda. She earned her Bachelor of Science in the field of Human Development and Family Studies in 1999 and for a while worked with children and teenagers with special needs. But the stress level was too high and Gin started to think about changing career.

The desire of helping people made her choose a career in massage therapy. After graduating from the massage school in 2002 she spent a year working at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California learning Ayurveda.

It is easy to describe Ayurvedic massage as luxurious, detoxifying and total bliss. These ancient techniques use a lot of warmed herbalized oils and friction strokes to rejuvenate the tissues of the body, and induce the elimination of toxins.

“We choose different oils for different clients based on age honored traditions of Ayurveda. There are three body mind constitutions. First we seek to determine if imbalance exists within these constitutions. By applying oil and massage technique appropriate for a person’s constitution we correct imbalance and assist the body in healing itself.” – explains Gin Brunssen.

Ayurvedic Bodywork Center offers a wide selection of ancient Ayurvedic massage sessions from Gandharva (accompanied by the meditative sounds of the crystal bowl) and Marma therapy to Swedana, an herbal steam treatment.

Gin Brunssen, BS, LMBT is available for questions at:
(919) 609-3368

For more information about Ayurvedic Massage or to book your appointment online:
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center: http://www.ayubwc.com/treatments.html
3402 Hillsborough Street, Suite 106
Raleigh, NC, 27607

Related posts:

1. Stress and Rebalancing from an Ayurvedic Perspective
2. Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I
3. Essential Oil: How to choose – Part II