The holidays are upon us which means many of us are traveling, bouncing from one social gathering to another, or bustling around getting everything ready to host friends and family. Either way, if you’re like me, you’ll probably get spun out and need to incorporate some serious self-care to stay grounded, sane and healthy throughout it all. Well don’t worry because I’ve got some tips to pacify all that erratic Vata energy and the recipe for this super cozy Tahini Rose Rooibos Latte for you. This latte was inspired by a recent visit from my friend Renee. She whipped up the most amazing herbal latte for our impromptu meet-up here in Seattle which inspired me to switch up my morning drink routine and try my hand at an herbal latte of my own. Tahini makes this drink super creamy and cozy, cinnamon adds warmth and spice and the rose water calms the mind. Continue reading for some Ayurvedic tips and the recipe…
It sometimes feels like there’s a silent epidemic going on. In our fast paced world of instant gratification, fast food, and over stimulation it’s no wonder that so many people suffer from Vata imbalances. It’s hard to avoid when we’re bombarded by the constant hum of traffic, bright lights day and night, tv, movies and video games, social media, and a plethora of social gatherings. How do we find balance amidst the chaos? Understanding Vata is the first step.
Vata is the energy of movement and is made up of space and air. It lives in the hollow spaces in the body such as the joints, ears, eyes, nose, and intestines. It is light, mobile, subtle, clear, hard, dry, and rough. Vata is at its peak between 2-6 (am/pm) which means that during these hours you are most likely to experience Vata symptoms. Ever notice that when you wake up in the middle of the night it’s usually around 2am? That’s Vata making trouble. We all have some amount of Vata dosha in us, but some of us have more than others. That means that if you have a predominantly Vata constitution you’re more likely to notice imbalances pop up during the winter months when Vata is most active.
Here are some clues that you might be a Vata person and/or have an imbalance: Vata people are typically thin and lanky with blue eyes, pale skin, and curly hair. They are often good at multi-tasking, creative, and introverted with active imaginations and a tendency towards quick movements and quick speech. When out of balance, Vata manifests physically as dryness, thin hair, brittle nails and bones, ringing in the ears, constipation, gas, bloating, insomnia, dizziness, tremors, joint pain, cold hands and feet, and the tendency towards dramatic weight loss or weight gain (especially around the hips) or both. A Vata imbalance manifests mentally and emotionally as anxiety, distractedness, nervousness, and insecurity. Any of this sound familiar? If so, there’s a good chance you’ve got a fair amount of Vata in your constitution. So here’s what you can do to tame Vata:
Vata Pacifying Lifestyle
-Create a solid daily routine, making time for self care and relaxation.
-SLOW DOWN.
-Daily abhyanga with almond oil, untoasted sesame oil, or Vata massage oil making sure to use plenty of oil (don’t forget the ears and nose).
-Nightly warm bath before bed.
-Moderate exercise in the morning or evening. Yoga, walking, and swimming are good choices. Running has a tendency to further aggravate Vata.
-Get your hands in the dirt.
-Incorporate meditation and alternate nostril breathing.
–Lavender, clove, sage, vetiver and rose are good essential oils to calm and ground Vata.
Vata Pacifying Diet
-Eat regular meals (don’t skip meals and avoid fasting but be mindful of overeating as Vata digestion is often weak and irregular and therefore can’t handle too much food at once).
-Favor sweet, sour, and salty tastes. Note: this does not mean that you should eat refined sugars or processed foods, rather, that you should favor foods that are naturally sweet, sour and salty (think squash, yogurt and seaweed respectively).
-Favor warming spices and herbs such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and black pepper.
-Favor warming foods such as soups, stews, and roasted root vegetables (you can find a full list of dosha specific dietary guidelines here)
-Incorporate plenty of healthy fats into your diet including ghee, olive oil, tahini, nuts and dairy to balance out the dry, light, and rough qualities of Vata.
-Avoid spicy, bitter, and astringent foods.
-Avoid raw foods, frozen foods, and cold foods, most beans, carbonated beverages and cold drinks, chips, popcorn and other dry foods.
-Stay hydrated by sipping warm tea regularly.
-Consider enjoying a cup of warm nut milk with spices or a Tahini Rose Rooibos Latte before bed to help you get grounded and wind down. (Fun fact: Rooibos contains flavanoids that increase the mineral content of your bones? Perfect for that Vata imbalance!)
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Tahini Rose Rooibos Latte
Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons loose leaf rooibos tea
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 date, pitted
1 teaspoon tahini
3/4 teaspoon rose water concentrate
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
PROCEDURE
Place the tea in glass jar or glass measuring cup, cover with 1 cup boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain the tea through a fine mesh seive into the container of a high speed blender. Alternatively, use a french press to make the tea. Meanwhile warm the almond milk in a small pot over low heat. Add the hot almond milk, date, tahini, rose water, and cinnamon to the blender with the tea and blend on high until smooth and creamy.
This sounds so interesting, I would have never thought to put tahini in a drink!
Random Vata question-
I’ve read, as you mentioned, advice to bath in the evening before bed, along with oil massages. I’ve also read that dry brushing is good to do, but it should be done in the morning because it’s stimulating, and before your shower.
I live in California, where we are in a perpetual drought. Water conservation is a big part of my lifestyle. I’m not going to shower/bath in both the morning and evening. I have not been able to have anyone tell me what is best for me to do! What do you advise?
Oh yeah! Tahini is great in drinks and shakes! I wouldn’t recommend dry brushing for Vata types as it can be aggravating. Vata’s qualities are already dry light mobile rough etc. so adding more of those qualities through dry brushing is not good. If you are going to do it, and want to minimize your showers I’d do it before your abhyanga either in the am or pm.
This post is very enlightening. Thanks for sharing! And what a beautiful, nourishing latte =)
Glad you found it helpful!
This was such a great read, and I have a question: I recognize a lot of the Vata features in myself (including an instinctive aversion for bitter, cold, dry and raw foods) but I eat plantbased and lentils/beans are a big part of my diet, since they are my main protein source. Can you advise on which bean varieties to favour to maintain balance? Thank you, Sasha!
Diana,
Great question! I too have a fair amount of Vata in my constitution and also eat a lot of beans and lentils. The key is to make sure your legumes are well cooked, or even over cooked, and to eat them with plenty of ghee or olive oil and digestive spices. Generally speaking mung dal and red lentils are going to be the best bet for someone with a Vata constitution, but other beans and legumes can be eaten as well in moderation. You can also try cooking your beans with a pinch of hing to make them more digestible. I’ll also add that you can generally get plenty of protein from eating a plant based diet as many fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds contain the essential amino acids required to create protein. Hope this helps!
Perfect timing for this. Thank you sweetie. I miss you!
You bet! XO
I love this recipe and will definitely try it. Where would I find rose water concentrate?
Hey! Glad you like the recipe. Here is the rose water concentrate I used but any food grade rose water will work just fine. Enjoy!
Simply lovely! I must taste this drink!