Restoring Balance

Vata

In Ayurveda, Vata dosha is characterised by qualities such as dryness, coldness, lightness, and irregularity. When Vata is imbalanced, it can lead to various skin issues:

• Dryness and Flakiness: Skin may become rough and scaly.

• Sensitivity: Increased susceptibility to irritation and dry conditions like eczema or dermatitis with drier qualities due to the impaired lipid barrier.

• Premature Aging: Fine lines and wrinkles may develop more rapidly due to a lack of lubrication and dehydration on the skin

Lifestyle Considerations

• Avoid over-bathing. Abhyanga prior to bathing is ideal to protect against moisture loss from the skin.

• Skincare should be hydrating and include the use of facial oils and facial massage to protect the lipid barrier of the skin and reduce moisture loss while nourishing. The associated massage also improves the flow of blood carrying nutrients.

• As the qualities of Vata are dry, cold and light, to bring balance incorporate warm, nourishing foods like soups and stews with warming herbs and spices such as ginger and cinnamon, which also improve digestion. Avoid excessive raw or cold foods as they have Vata qualities therefore will increase Vata.

• Drinks should be warm or at least room temperature rather than cold. Herbal infusions are ideal.

• Encourage a stable routine for sleep and meals to help ground Vata energies.

• Pranayama such as Nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) is beneficial for all dosha, however is great if the mind is anxious which can occur excess Vata.

• Exercise such as Yin yoga or Tai Chi with a focus on mindfulness are beneficial to ground Vata energies.

If Yoga is your practice, the following asana are highly beneficial to balance Vata energies:

• Forward folds such as Uttanasana calm the nervous system and stretch the length of the spine while encouraging slow, calming breaths. This encourages an inner focus, which grounds Vata energies while increasing blood flow to the head and face.

• Supine twists and child’s pose ground the body, relieving stress while encouraging a deep sense of relaxation. This is very useful if the excess Vata is resulting in anxiety or insomnia.

Vata needs routine, oil, warmth, grounding meals and regular sleep cycles

PITTA

In Ayurveda, Pitta dosha is characterized by qualities such as heat, intensity, sharpness, and fluidity. When Pitta is imbalanced, it can lead to several skin concerns:

• Redness and Inflammation: Skin may appear flushed and may develop conditions like rosacea or acne.

• Heat Sensitivity: Increased tendency for breakouts or rashes, especially in hot weather. Pitta may also burn easily so protection from the strong UV rays is essential.

• Oily Skin: Excess oiliness can increase the likelihood of clogged pores and irritation.

 Lifestyle Considerations

• Skincare: Use soothing and anti-inflammatory products; look for ingredients like Lotus Seed and Rose which have soothing and rejuvenating qualities. It is important to have cooling herbs and non-comedogenic ingredients to soothe any skin irritation while balancing the oil flow. If eczema is present, use OmVeda Soothing Massage oil (Eladi) prior to bathing to protect and soothe the skin.

• Diet: With Pitta having heat, incorporate cooling foods like cucumbers, melons, and dairy. Avoid spicy, fried or acidic foods and try to include herbs with cooling qualities like mint and coriander. Food with sweet, bitter and astringent qualities are ideal. Alcohol should also be avoided where possible, and caffeine kept to low amounts.

As Pitta dominant doshas have a strong appetite, meals should be eaten at regular intervals.

• Routine: Maintain a calm environment and a structured routine to reduce stress and build resilience to heat. Engage in stress-reducing activities such as meditation, Yin yoga or Slow flow and swimming. In Yoga asana, cooling inversions such as Viparida Kirani (legs up the wall) will support reducing facial oedema while calming the mind. Gentle backbends such as Bhujandasana (cobra pose) with a focus on a slow calm exhalation can reduce heat in the torso. If you are more interested in a flow, something slower and mindfully done like Chandra Namaskar can reduce Pitta in the skin and will not create excess additional heat which can further inflame breakouts or redness.

• Pranayama such as Sitali is very useful in reducing excess heat/ pitta, in turn supporting skin with acne, redness, or heat-based inflammation.

Pitta needs cooling meals, herbs, diet, limited sun exposure and emotional calm.

KAPHA

In Ayurveda, Kapha dosha is characterized by qualities such as heaviness, moisture, stability, and coldness. When Kapha is imbalanced, it can lead to several skin issues:

• Oily Skin: Increased oiliness and improper cleansing can lead to clogged pores and a tendency for congestion, acne or breakouts.\
• Greasy Texture: Skin may feel sticky or slick due to excess moisture.
• Allergic Reactions: Kapha imbalance can contribute to skin conditions such as eczema and allergic reactions with a wet quality.

Lifestyle Considerations

• Skincare: Use lightweight and non-comedogenic products to prevent clogged pores. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin and promote circulation. Abhyanga can still be practiced, however a more stimulating blend of oils should be used, and the excess oil can be vigorously removed with herbal flour such as our Velvet skin powder or Besan flour (Chickpea).

• Diet: To balance the oily, heavy and cold nature of Kapha, focus on light, spicy, and warm foods; particularly those with bitter, pungent and astringent qualities. Include plenty of vegetables and minimize heavy foods such as dairy and fried foods.  Limit sugary foods and drinks.

• Routine: Encourage an active lifestyle with regular physical activity to increase sweat and release stagnation. Hiking, dancing or Vinyasa Yoga are ideal. Dynamic Surya Namiskar will remove dullness, mild congestion in the skin, and release stagnation on the scalp. Heart openers such as Ustrasana (Camel Pose) increase the flow of Prana to the head and face, supporting balancing Kapha skin conditions.

As far as Pranayama most suitable to reduce Kapha and benefiting the associated face and scalp conditions, Bhastrika (Bellows breath) is both heating and stimulating. This pranayama should only be used when Vata and Pitta are very low as it may increase both and followed with slow calm breaths for integration.

Kapha needs active movement, light warm meals and regular deep cleansing and exfoliation