What is Vata Dosha? Who is Vata Dosha? What are the qualities and functions of Vata Dosha? What happens to someone with Vata imbalance? We will answer all these questions in this article.

Have you ever felt you don’t belong? Do you feel that you do not fit and you just want to go away and do your own thing? Do you hate being told what to do and have this constant feeling of wanting to fly away?

Well, maybe you are just as Vata as I am. Yes, a big part of me is Vata. Before I knew about Ayurveda’s Tri-Dosha Concept of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, I was just being me. The girl who likes to laugh dislikes being fat never scared of jumping heights and has some decent degree of creativity.

When I knew about Doshas, that is when I made more sense of myself. I understood myself better and it also brought awareness to how my body and mind operate as being me.

If you want to find out how much of a Vata you are, let us learn Vata Dosha a little deeper.

What is Vata Dosha?

According to Ayurveda, the body is sustained and maintained by three main fundamental elements. Which are Dosha, tissues (dhatu), and waste products (malas).

Dosha is a Sanskrit word that means “subtle elements” or it can also mean “subtle energy”. There are three doshas namely, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. All of the doshas have certain qualities that correspond from their elemental makeup.

And the quantity of each dosha varies inside the body. This combination determines our unique constitution. And the dominant dosha highlights your identity. Although all three have specific functions, they collectively sustain and maintain the life process.

Vata dosha is made up of the elements Ether and Air. Ether is a concept of space where air is that gaseous substance that we all know can move in, out, and around space. Among the two elements of Vata, air is the most dominant because of its ability to move. Thus, Vata dosha is also referred to as Vayu (sanskrit word that literally means “air”).

Qualities of Vata Dosha

Air is the energy source of Vata dosha. If we look at the qualities of air, we could describe it as, light or rough, mobile or calm, and maybe clear. It can also be dry and cold.

And these subtle qualities of energy are very obvious in a person with Vata dominant dosha. These qualities can manifest in all aspects of a Vata person.

General Appearance

Vata people are generally light and tall. They have thin bodies and thin hair. Their legs are long and skinny. They also have distinct facial features, the shape of their face is somewhat elongated with a pointed sharp chin and pointed nose.

I remember when I was in grade school my auntie used to tell me I was too skinny that the wind might just blow me away.

A body dominated by Vata dosha is almost designed to fly.

The skin of a Vata dominated person is mostly dry. Its dryness adds to being light. This is one of the annoying bit of being a Vata the dry skin that most of the time cause you itchiness here and there. And not only that, because it is dry, it can wrinkle prematurely.

Physiological Aspect

The bodily processes of a Vata person also have some distinct qualities unique to a Vata.

The appetite of a Vata person is irregular so as their metabolism, it can go on a limbo.

Because of Vata’s dryness, they are constipated most times. For women, the menstrual period can be irregular.

When it comes to sexual drive Vatas have the frequent drive but nothing to get too excited because they have a quick orgasm, so before you know it, it’s over and done with for them…

Psychological Aspect

Vata dosha is the most imaginative beings. They have a photographic memory. And are very creative. They are not the most intelligent but they are able to visualise their ideas in their head vividly. When they are calm and clear they are capable of creating a masterpiece.

Emotional Aspect

If it doesn’t take you so much to cry over something even just for silly simple things, then you might just be a Vata. Vata is the most emotional dosha, by emotional I mean they like the drama and they won’t necessarily know why.

Vata people like to express themselves through their own art and sometimes this could mean out of the ordinary or away from the norm. And when a Vata person is surrounded by a Pitta dominated crowed they often feel insecure of their own identity.

They are the ones that get anxious easily and panics. But the irony of being a Vata is that they may appear weak emotionally but deeply they are the most carefree. They may get anxious and panics but this is very superficial because deeply they don’t hold it in. This is why Vatas are never really stressed. They may look like it and say it but nah…not really because tomorrow they can forget it if they want to!

Biological Functions of Vata Dosha

All the doshas have a role to play in our body. They all have a role in sustaining and maintaining bodily functions.

For a Vata it controls movement. It keeps things moving. The movement of oxygen in and out of the body. The circulation of blood. It is responsible for the movement of digestion from the mouth and out to the anus. The communication between a thought process to action.

Without Vata the other two doshas cannot function. So, If you are a Vata know this, you are very important my friend!

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the Vata energy, it can easily get imbalanced. In fact, most ailments in the body are either caused or aggravated by an imbalanced Vata energy.

Symptoms of Vata imbalance

• Hyperactivity
• Involuntary body tremors
• Involuntary rapid muscle movements such as rapid blinking
• Cramps
• Palpitations
• Fatigue
• Poor circulation
• Excessive talking
• Feeling suffocated
• Tinnitus
• Bloating
• Fluid retention
• Light periods or loss of periods
• Lack of sperm
• Weak legs
• Dizziness
• Runny nose
• Stomach noises
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Dryness of throat
• Constipation

So, who is Vata?

Vata Dosha is a skinny friend of yours who is very unpredictable. She cries when she sees a cute kitten. Mostly bloated and farts a lot. He can wear a colour rainbow with confidence. That colleague who makes everything look urgent but nothing is really done until that last minute. She can cross continents traveling with a single backpack. He who cycled 80 miles there and back in one day with just a bar of nuts for lunch!

But above all that, Vata dosha is that one who constantly makes life interesting!