Balancing the Doshas

Tips for balancing Vata Dosha

Follow a Vata balancing diet favouring cooked foods rather than raw foods and salads.
Go to bed early bedtime and have lots of rest.
Diffuse calming and grounding aromatic oils or incense into your home and office. Orange, geranium, lavender, basil, spruce & fir are excellent in this regard.
Maintain a regular daily routine by integrating the ‘Daily Routine’
Give yourself massage (Abhyanga) using warm sesame oil each morning.
Ensure you have regular, daily elimination. Triphala herbal formula helps in this regard.
Stay warm, especially in cold, windy weather.
Take gentle walks in the countryside to calm and balance the mind.
Wear calm, soothing colours such as pastels, green or brown.
Do not overexert and rest whenever the body becomes tired or over stimulated
Relax often by practicing meditation, pranayama, Yoga or Tai Chi.
Chant ‘Ram’ (pronounced ‘rarm’) 108 times each day.
Read light, humorous, feel-good novels and turn the television off one hour before bed.
Take up walking, fishing, bird-watching or gardening for general relaxation.
Take up writing, drawing, painting or acting to balance your creative energies.
Avoid excessive talking and try to have a day of silence each week.
Wrap up warm and keep dry in the winter - cover your head on cold, windy days.
Avoid loud, noisy environments
Rest for short periods throughout the day

Tips for balancing Pitta Dosha

Follow a Pitta balancing diet and avoid overly hot, spicy or sour foods.
Avoid very heating substances such as red meat, alcohol and tobacco.
Avoid excessive fasting and try to eat when you are hungry. Don’t skip meals; especially lunch.
Exercise moderately (short runs or swims) and only when the weather or climate is cool.
Walk regularly in nature; especially by the sea. Walking in the moonlight is also very beneficial.
Especially avoid prolonged exercise in very hot climates or environments.
Keep your head and skin protected and refrain from sunbathing when the sun is hot.
Reduce your exposure to hot environments such as saunas and steam rooms.
Cultivate peaceful emotions and spend more time with people who love and fully accept you.
Avoid and angry or stressed people and try not to argue – aim to agree more often!
Take the time to be sweet and sociable and find the time to chat, laugh and play.
Practice moderation and find time for enjoying leisure activities and appreciating natural beauty.
Avoid overly competitive sports, deadlines and confrontation in general.
Practice meditation, cooling forms of pranayama and gentle yoga postures.
Avoid watching too much television and excessive use of computers.
Massage the head with coconut oil at night.
Wear cooling colours – blue, purple, green and avoid wearing red colours.
Drink pomegranate juice or eat pomegranate seeds. Its astringent and bitter quality helps balance pitta, cleanses the liver and blood and works as an excellent heart tonic.
Drink 30mls of Aloe Vera each morning.

Tips for balancing Kapha

Follow a Kapha balancing diet with plenty of spices and pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.
Skip breakfast if you don’t feel hungry.
Partake in some vigorous exercise each day – running, cycling, tennis, squash or rugby.
Stay warm in cold, damp weather.
Be early to bed and early to rise.
Take time to enjoy warm showers.
Have a vigorous, dry massage each morning.
Wear bright colours – orange, yellow, red.
Decorate you house in warm, bright, vibrant colours.
Enjoy the sun and spend more time outdoors.
Partake in exciting activities or adventure holidays.
Take time out to have fun and meet new people.
Seek out variety, embrace new experiences and take up a hobby.
Use stimulating essential oils and incense with warming aromas such as pine, eucalyptus, clove, orange, basil & sage.