Vata dosha characteristics are the energies that make up every person, which offer different physiological roles in the mind and body. They oversee all physical and mental rules and provide every person with a unique design for wellness and attainment. Ayurveda classifies everyone into one of three doshas. While all of us have components of all three doshas, in most people, one rules, controlling physical and emotional health, performance, and more. They oversee all of the body’s rules, from bodily functions to our thoughts and feelings.
There are five elements that make up the environment around us and the environment inside of us: space, air, fire, water, and earth. They all mirror certain characteristics that we feel through our senses. Vata dosha characteristics expose the language of nature. For example, the air is like the breeze and is steadily on the move, a little cold, drying and light. While, fire is warm, steamy and passionate; whereas water is wet, a can be cold and heavy. Internally, these five controlling elements fuse together and exist as three primary energy guides or doshas.
The Vata Dosha holds the characteristics of the elements ether and air. Vata is in control of our energy and movement as well as for nervous system. Breathing, communication, circulation, and digestion are all the ruled by Vata dosha characteristics. A person with a Vata dosha characteristic will have physical and mental states that mirror the elemental properties of Space and Air. A Vata dosha characteristic will always be on the go, with an energetic and creative mind.
Top 5 Vata Dosha Characteristics
The main areas of Vata in the body are the bones, joints, colon, thighs, ears, skin, brain, and nerve tissues.
Physical Vata Dosha Characteristics
- Thin, joints crack
- Light body
- Fine hair
- Dry skin
- Thin lips
- Extremely flexible
- More transparent skin, obvious to see veins
- Delicate features
- Tend to “run cold”
1. Thin and Agile
Vata dosha characteristics are normally very small people. Their stature is rather delicate and flexible, like that of marathon runners or athletes. Vata dosha characteristics tend to have thinner skin, fuzzy hair, and tooth abnormalities. Their eyes are normally small and move swiftly back and forth. Their bodies and muscles are very flexible and agile. They are naturally nimble with narroe bones, and hypermobile joints. For Vata doshas weight loss can be easy, even unintentional; and they often struggle to gain weight
2. Cooler Body Temperature
Vata dosha characteristics typically run cold. Like air and water can typically be cooler in nature the same can be said for Vata dosha. They tend to run very cold. Normally this can be translated to someone who often has cold hands or cold feet. Vata doshas tend to become chilled easier than others and could benefit from carrying around sweaters, jackets, or even a blanket to keep their body temperature in balance.
3. Sensitive Stomachs
Vata dosha characteristics includes a sensitive stomach. An increased Vata can often experience digestive problems like gas and constipation. Vata doshas can get moving and overlook eating, which can damage their constantly changing digestion even more. Vata doshas with their sensitive stomachs may experience recurring gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Foods that are in season such as root vegetables and winter squash will help nourish and balance the body of a vata dosha. Herbs can offer great support to vata’s delicate digestive system.
Mental Vata Dosha Characteristics
- Emotionally sensitive
- Alert
- Flexible
- Enthusiastic
- Creative
- Artistic
- Spontaneous
- Kind
- Multifaceted interests and abilities
4. Energetic and Light Personalities
Vata doshas characteristics are passionate, light, and creative. They are intelligent, energetic, and open to new occurrences. Additionally, they are active and like to move. Vata doshas are likely to feel ‘wired’ and stressed, and may feel tired by the late afternoon. They are creative, enthusiastic, active, alert and restless, jumping from one idea to the next. Vata doshas can also be emotionally delicate or “thin-skinned”.
5. Creative and Airy
Vata dosha characteristics can include a creative and airy persona. They can forget themselves and the world in the process. Their creative drive is often readily apparent and they have a reputation for imaginative, visionary thinking and can thrive in moments when the conventional approach fails. Their spontaneity can sometimes create absurd money expenditures or emotional outbursts. Vata doshas when in equilibrium, can remain vibrant, friendly and creative beings. They are intimately connected to the spiritual, which is why meditation is easy for them.
Caring for Vata Dosha Characteristics
Vata dosha characteristics are light, dry, sharp, clear, moving, cold and active, and sour, bitter and astringent in flavor. Accordingly, keeping more of the properties or characteristics in food and lifestyle decisions which have the opposite effect such as heavy, moist, smooth, sticky, slow, warm, solid, salty, sour and sweet helps to sustain balance or bring excess doshas back into balance.
If Vata doshas remain out of balance for an extensive period of time, stress and agitation may occur. If they live an irregular life, they can tend to have rheumatoid arthritis and other joint problems.