Scenario 1:
Do you remember the story of astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore stranded in space for nearly 10 months in 2024, after travelling on a test flight that was meant to last 8 days? There were some concerns about Sunita Williams’ health as expected during space travel. Details of which are not fully known but she recovered well during rehabilitation.
Some common changes observed in astronauts’ bodies during their time in space:
- Astronauts lose around 1-1.5% bone density for every month spent in space,
- The heart and blood vessels start to weaken as they have an easier time not having to pump blood against gravity,
- Accelerated aging,
- Increased risk of developing kidney stones
- Sleep disruption
- Increased risk of behavioral issues and psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression
Outer space is an extreme setting with high exposure to radiation and a baseline temperature of about −270.4°C or −454.8. Having learned about the effects of radiation and cold weather, we can imagine the effects of outer space on the human body.
Now let’s examine an environment that is the opposite of outer space. Warm, earthy, water.
Scenario 2:
In 2023, Joseph Dituri spent 100 days at a depth of 22 feet beneath the sea, in an underwater research station in the Florida Keys. Here are some fascinating changes documented as a result of this experiment.
- He shrunk by three-quarters of an inch.
- Increased collagen production
- increased the length of his telomeres — DNA structures found at the end of chromosomes that usually become shorter as you age.
- 17 times increase in stem cell production, suggesting a potential slowing down of the effects of ageing
- He doubled his REM sleep, waking up refreshed and alert every morning (As a result, an electroencephalogram of Dituri’s brain showed an increase in coherence—meaning stronger and more efficient communication between neural networks.)
- increase in metabolism, weight loss of 23lb and 100 points decrease in cholesterol.
- inflammatory markers “dropped precipitously,” he says, including his cortisol levels.
- Seven times increase in testosterone was recorded
- Biological age had reversed itself by 10 years.
Hold these 2 scenarios for a minute.
What is VATA?
VATA is the combination of air + ether/space in your body. Yes, the same air in our environment and ether that makes up outer space because you are in constant continuity with the Universe. This is the core principle of Ayurveda. You are made up of the very elements that constitute Nature. ie The 5 primary elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether. Not in some vague esoteric speak, but in a very tangible way that helps you understand your being and track your health everyday.
Ayurveda refers to space matter as ether. It has something to do with radiation rather than the compound ether. And you are made up of it too.
Your baseline unique biological constitution is determined at conception by your mother’s 5 elements, father’s 5 elements and the environment at the time. Since we are speaking of VATA in particular today – your baseline VATA composition is determined at conception by your mother’s VATA, father’s VATA and the environment at the time. A person’s primary VATA built significantly determines their susceptibility to VATA aggravation.
It is relatively lowest at birth and gradually increases to reach its highest in old age. Thus, being responsible for aging, all diseases and death.
VATA is distributed throughout the body, with the primary seat being the bones, nerves, genitourinary system and distal bowel. Therefore , balanced VATA is crucial for overall health, fertility, vitality and healthy aging.
How do you recognize an increased VATA in the body?
Think about the features of air.
Cold, dry, light, moving, uncertain, quick.
Now apply the same qualities to your body and mind to understand your normal constitution and your imbalance.
Given that VATA is at its highest in old age and explains features of senility, one can easily recognize features of imbalanced VATA occurring at any stage of life.
Here are some common signs and symptoms of aggravated VATA:
- Feeling uncomfortably cold
- Feeling light like you’re going to fly away
- Anxiety, overthinking, lack of concentration, easily distracted
- Getting triggered, flying off the handle
- Tremors, restlessness
- Dry skin and mucosa
- Hair loss, dry weak hair, split ends
- Racing heart rate,
- Poor sleep, difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking up between 2am and 6am
- Constipation, flatulence
- Joint crepitus and weak, brittle bones
- Sensitive teeth, dental problems
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Weight loss
- Irregular or scanty menstruation
- Infertility
- Erectile dysfunction, decreased libido
- Kidney stones
- Excess craving of sweet and salty foods
- Intense hunger with irritability
Do you see the similarities with changes noted in astronauts’ bodies?
That’s VATA for you. This is the effect of increase in air and ether/space in the body.
What causes VATA imbalance in us earthlings ?
Many factors that your senses, body and mind are exposed to, can increase VATA to different degrees. Let’s look at these causes through the lens of the 8 lifestyle pillars.
- Sleep – Lack of sleep
- Foods for the senses
Just like you, every plant and animal is also made up of earth, water, fire, air & ether. Therefore, what you consume can balance and imbalance your 5 elements.
Taste – Excess intake of cold, dry, bitter & astringent tasting foods, refrigerated foods, corn, cabbage, cauliflowers, beans, lentils, peas, oats, barley, cereal, spinach, kale, processed foods, SUGAR.
Smell– harsh, offensive smells
Sight– Disturbing visuals, excess screen.
time, doomscrolling
Sound– loud noise, traffic
Touch– noxious touch, pain, cold weather
- Physical activity – excess running, excess sex
- Sunshine: Lack of exposure to sunshine
- Water: Excess water intake
- Air : Cold, windy weather
- Mental health – Stress, overworking, flight of ideas
- Relationships –
Unhealthy relationships where there is uncertainty, lack of commitment and security.
Being surrounded by high VATA people! (identifying high VATA people is a life saving skill that can be and should be learned)
Miscellaneous causes:
- Tea, coffee
- Drug use – cocaine, ecstacy, alcohol
- Flight travel (being away from Earth)
- SPACE Travel (being further away from Earth! Not sure if Mars is as grounding as Earth.)
As you can see, our entire modern way of life is extremely VATA aggravating. And our VATA agitated mind has become extra creative with more VATA disrupting plans and projects for the individual, humanity and the whole planet.
Avoiding or minimizing exposure to your VATA destabilizers is the first step to pacifying VATA.
It would be very rewarding to overcome any inability, hesitation, mental gymnastics and intellectual arguments that stop you from saying NO to your VATA villains!
Why to pacify VATA?
It is the most important element in the body and keeps earth, water, and fire in balance.
It is the primary determinant of fertility, resilience, vitality and robust mental health.
It is the primary driver of aging.
Excess vata weakens every organ of the body and causes all diseases. Hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, refractive errors, cataract, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, arthritis, dental problems, fibromyalgia, cancer, schizophrenia, psychosis etc are invariably associated with high VATA.
Balancing the VATA is therefore the main principle of healing, longevity, disease prevention, management and cure.
Given that VATA is quick and moving, it is also the quickest to correct, compared to fire, earth and water. I believe that balancing of VATA can explain many miraculous healing stories where people recover from morbid and fatal diseases within days to weeks. God does move Nature in mysterious ways!
How to pacify VATA?
Luckily for us, nature has provided everything we need to heal, grow and thrive.
For instance – earth, water and fire help to stabilize VATA.
Earth as heavy and grounding, water as soothing and fire as warmth – are therapeutic and nourishing for your senses, body and mind in VATA imbalance.
Think sunshine, warm weather, warm beaches. That’s scenario 2 for you, but tad bit extreme.
The great many remarkable changes observed in Joseph Dituri as a result of his 100 day underwater stay in the Florida Keys, is a classic example of VATA pacification.
That calm, grounded (earthy) feeling you experience when you’re at a warm beach or in a garden is your VATA being pacified. This is the importance of living in an environment and place that best suits you.
Having a routine is naturally tremendously beneficial for chaotic VATA. So, let’s look at the 8 lifestyle pillars you can work on.
- Adequate sleep
- Food for your senses
Taste: Warm, freshly cooked, grounding, whole food meals. Naturally sweet, salty, sour and spicy tasting foods are VATA pacifying.
Such as :
- Eggs (sweet, warming)
- Butter (sweet), milk (sweet), yoghurt (sour)
- Meat (sweet & salty, warming)
- Whole wheat (sweet)
- Nuts & seeds – coconut, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazel nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds, sesame seeds (naturally sweet, can be dry roasted with salt and spices)
- Olive oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil (sweet and warming)
- Mint, coriander, rosemary, thyme (spicy)
- Saffron, nutmeg, cinnamon (spicy, warming)
- Sea salt, rock salt
- Garlic, ginger, chives (spicy, warming)
- Apples, grapes, avocado, pears (sweet)
- Carrots, onions, pumpkin (sweet, warming)
- Lime, lemon (sour, warming)
Smell – sweet and spicy fragrances such as
lavender, rose, nutmeg, jasmine etc
Aromatherapy
Sight – nature, greenery
Sound – waves, streams, birds,
pleasant music, silence
Touch – soft soothing touch, spa, massage
comforting hugs, cuddly creatures.
- Physical activity – Strength training, swimming, gentle yoga
- Adequate exposure to sunshine – where you live has a huge influence on your health.
- Breathwork: Alternate nostril breathing, bee breath
- Natural earth-filtered stream water
- Mental health:
Enjoying your natural talents – singing, painting, hobbies
Spiritual knowledge to understand your mind and the world
Faith to combat fear and anxiety
Meditation to centre the mind
Journaling to untangle the mind
- Positive relationships:
Loving, kind, reflective conversations
Stable, secure and loving relationships
Committed and supportive loved ones
This is a brief list.
Let your awareness identify what makes you feel the best.
Let your intelligence and determination help you choose what’s best for you.
A slow, step wise approach works best for VATA to avoid any overwhelm or anxiety.
This is the daily practice- to go beyond protocols and generic advice to know from lived experience about what works best for you.
What would a person with balanced VATA be like?
While earth, water, and fire have their own influences, here’s a general idea of the benefits of pacified VATA.
- Healthy hair – According to Ayurveda, hair is an extension of bone and bone is embryologically derived from the reproductive cells. Both of which are the primary seats of VATA. Thus in many cultures, healthy hair is considered a sign of fertility and good overall health.
- Strong bones, muscles and joints
- Good stamina and endurance
- Focussed mind
- Feeling calm and cheerful
- Efficient and productive
- Able to perform multiple tasks in a flow without becoming irritable or flustered
- Being unflappable in the face of physically threatening, emotionally triggering or mentally challenging situations
- Not easily triggered, angered or restless
- Good quality sleep
- Reliable and steady
- Healing and delightful to be around
Who comes to mind when you think of a person with good VATA balance?
Do you feel more confident about recognising VATA imbalance?
Do you feel like you’re losing yourself or flying away?
Do you feel the need for some TLC and grounding?
You now possess secret knowledge.
Let the healing begin!