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4. Vata Energy Balance · Lately with Lexi

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  SPEAKER_00: Hello.
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  SPEAKER_00: Hi friends.
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  Welcome back to through the veil where we explore the weekly
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  theme that I'm
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  SPEAKER_00: teaching in my yoga classes and workshops.
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  SPEAKER_00: This week's theme is all about balancing Vata,
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  SPEAKER_00: which if you're not familiar with what Vata is,
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  SPEAKER_00: no worries.
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  SPEAKER_00: We're going to dive into all the things.
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  And this is actually a theme that I'm going to be exploring
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  probably through
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  SPEAKER_00: November and December in my classes,
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  SPEAKER_00: workshops,
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  SPEAKER_00: and also in my personal practice.
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  SPEAKER_00: And
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  And in Ayurveda,
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  if you're unfamiliar,
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  Ayurveda is yoga's sister science.
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  SPEAKER_00: And essentially what Ayurveda is,
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  is an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine that focuses
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  on balancing your
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  SPEAKER_00: mind,
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  SPEAKER_00: your body,
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  SPEAKER_00: and your spirit to promote overall health and well-being.
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  SPEAKER_00: And through the Ayurvedic system, we are currently in Vata season.
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  SPEAKER_00: Vata is the transitional time between fall and winter.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's also associated with the elements of air and ether.
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  SPEAKER_00: Vata governs our movement, our creativity, and our flexibility.
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  And as the season becomes cooler and drier,
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  vada energy becomes more pronounced.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it can also easily tip into imbalance,
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  SPEAKER_00: leading to feeling maybe a little bit more anxious than usual,
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  SPEAKER_00: restless,
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  SPEAKER_00: or like you've scattered energy.
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  SPEAKER_00: So if you're feeling any of those things, it's likely a vada imbalance.
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  And this is where the Ayurvedic principle of opposites balance
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  becomes really essential.
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  So if we want to counteract the cold,
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  dry,
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  and airy qualities of vada season,
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  SPEAKER_00: What we need is warmth.
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  SPEAKER_00: We need oiliness.
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  SPEAKER_00: We need deep nourishment.
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  We want to focus on nurturing our relationships and also really
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  spending time
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  SPEAKER_00: developing a greater sense of stability,
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  SPEAKER_00: routine,
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  SPEAKER_00: and grounding.
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  So balancing vata is really crucial both for our mental and
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  physical well-being and
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  SPEAKER_00: Because when vata is balanced,
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  SPEAKER_00: it supports our creativity,
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  SPEAKER_00: our mental clarity,
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  SPEAKER_00: and also our spiritual insight.
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  SPEAKER_00: When it is out of balance,
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  SPEAKER_00: we may feel more overwhelmed,
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  SPEAKER_00: fatigued,
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  SPEAKER_00: or disconnected from our center.
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  SPEAKER_00: So balancing vata is all about releasing any scattered,
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  SPEAKER_00: anxious energy so that we can cultivate this deeper sense of stability,
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  SPEAKER_00: grounding,
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  SPEAKER_00: and wholeness.
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  SPEAKER_00: And when we create this deeper,
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  SPEAKER_00: more fulfilling and rich inner stability,
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  SPEAKER_00: what we do is we open the door for deeper spiritual awareness,
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  SPEAKER_00: insight,
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  SPEAKER_00: and presence,
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  which can go on to just deeply impact in a positive way our
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  relationships,
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  SPEAKER_00: our communication,
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  SPEAKER_00: our work,
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  SPEAKER_00: our purpose and passion in the world.
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  SPEAKER_00: And so it's always something I like to touch on this time of year.
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  SPEAKER_00: Personally,
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  I've been feeling more fatigued these last couple of weeks and
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  noticing increased
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  SPEAKER_00: dryness around my hands,
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  SPEAKER_00: like my cuticles are really dry,
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  SPEAKER_00: and also my face.
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  SPEAKER_00: So these are all classic signs of Vata imbalance.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it's also super common in the months of October.
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  SPEAKER_00: And so just being curious about what's showing up for you physically,
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  SPEAKER_00: mentally,
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  SPEAKER_00: emotionally,
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  spiritually right now can give you some deeper insight into how
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  we can really work
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  SPEAKER_00: with the elements to create just greater balance in our life.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm also currently in a pre-cleanse.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm gearing up for a five-day mono diet,
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  SPEAKER_00: an Ayurvedic cleanse of khichri with my yoga teacher back home.
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  And if you're not familiar with a mono diet,
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  it's essentially eating one thing.
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  SPEAKER_00: for several days on end.
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  And this is really intentional to give your digestive system a
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  rest and a break so
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  that your organs can really work on healing and nourishing
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  themselves so that you
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  SPEAKER_00: can just overall create greater vitality within your physical body,
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  SPEAKER_00: which as we know,
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  SPEAKER_00: if we can take care of ourselves physically,
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  SPEAKER_00: that is going to have an impact on us spiritually,
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  SPEAKER_00: mentally,
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  SPEAKER_00: emotionally,
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  SPEAKER_00: and so forth.
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  So yogis all over the world practice seasonal cleansing both in
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  the fall and the spring.
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  It's these transitional periods that are really opportune times
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  for us to cleanse.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's a great way just to reset and rebalance.
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  If you are new to seasonal cleansing or Ayurveda and you want
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  some guidance on
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  SPEAKER_00: incorporating these ancient health practices into your life,
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  SPEAKER_00: some of you might not know,
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  I actually went through a year-long holistic health coaching
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  certification,
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  SPEAKER_00: gosh,
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  SPEAKER_00: back in 2015.
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  SPEAKER_00: I have been personally cleansing since...
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  SPEAKER_00: oh my gosh, 2008, I want to say.
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  SPEAKER_00: So this is just a deep passion of mine.
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  SPEAKER_00: It has really transformed my life.
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  You have no idea the stories that I have from just all the
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  different health
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  SPEAKER_00: elements that I dealt with growing up.
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  SPEAKER_00: So again, if you are curious about Ayurveda cleansing or
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  SPEAKER_00: herbalism.
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  SPEAKER_00: I would love to just pour any of my knowledge into you that I can.
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  SPEAKER_00: So you can book a free consultation with me to learn more.
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  The link will be down in the show notes below if you want to go
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  ahead and book that
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  SPEAKER_00: complimentary call.
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  I also want to kick this off by sharing an excerpt from
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  Yogananda's Self-Realization magazine.
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  This was actually back in 1956,
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  and I think it speaks really beautifully to the theme this
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  week.
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  SPEAKER_00: So the quote is,
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  SPEAKER_00: conserve the vital energy,
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  SPEAKER_00: follow a balanced diet,
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  SPEAKER_00: and always smile and be happy.
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  He who finds joy within himself discovers that his body is
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  charged with electric
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  SPEAKER_00: current,
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  SPEAKER_00: life energy,
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  SPEAKER_00: not from food,
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  SPEAKER_00: but from God.
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  SPEAKER_00: So essentially,
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  SPEAKER_00: this teaching reminds us that our vitality,
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  SPEAKER_00: yes,
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  SPEAKER_00: it comes from food and how we're nourishing ourselves physically,
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  SPEAKER_00: but it also comes from within,
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  SPEAKER_00: from our connection to our divine spark,
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  SPEAKER_00: that divine energy that we all share.
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  And it's not just from what we consume externally,
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  but how we're feeding ourselves internally.
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  SPEAKER_00: So when vata is balanced,
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  we're able to just better access this inner reservoir of joy
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  and life force.
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  And the scattered anxious quality of imbalanced vata can
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  actually block our
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  SPEAKER_00: connection to the steeper reservoir of energy that we all have.
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  So Yogananda is pointing us towards the same wisdom that
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  Ayurveda teaches us.
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  SPEAKER_00: True vitality,
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  SPEAKER_00: it's not just about what we eat or how we move,
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  SPEAKER_00: but also about how we cultivate and preserve our subtle energy.
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  SPEAKER_00: Everything from our prana,
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  SPEAKER_00: our life force,
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  SPEAKER_00: our inspiration,
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  SPEAKER_00: that inner divinity that I mentioned.
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  SPEAKER_00: So think about your intentionality and how you're showing up.
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  I had a teacher share recently,
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  they were asked,
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  like,
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  what are your thoughts on coffee?
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  SPEAKER_00: And I love their response because they shared,
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  SPEAKER_00: you know,
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  SPEAKER_00: I think it's important for us to all discern.
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  SPEAKER_00: And this goes back to last week's theme around discernment.
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  SPEAKER_00: We all want to develop this curiosity and wonder around
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  SPEAKER_00: How is our body and mind responding to certain things that we do?
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  And are we approaching something like coffee,
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  a stimulant,
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  with ritual and presence?
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  Or is it something that we're maybe consuming passively and
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  we're not really
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  SPEAKER_00: present and tuned into?
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  And so that's the invitation for this week is to really look at
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  where is your energy right now?
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  SPEAKER_00: Pause for a moment.
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  SPEAKER_00: Where are you leaking energy?
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  SPEAKER_00: That's really common when vada is overstimulated.
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  SPEAKER_00: So where are you leaking energy?
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  Where are you maybe seeking vitality externally when you could
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  be drawing it from
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  SPEAKER_00: the infinite source within?
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  SPEAKER_00: Throughout this week and the weeks ahead,
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  SPEAKER_00: notice how vada shows up in your body,
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  SPEAKER_00: in your thoughts,
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  SPEAKER_00: and your relationships.
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  SPEAKER_00: Do you feel grounded and present or scattered and restless?
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  SPEAKER_00: There's not a right or wrong.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's just something to notice and become aware of without judgment.
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  So I want to talk about three practical ways to balance vada
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  and tools that you can
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  SPEAKER_00: weave into your daily life through the upcoming colder months.
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  SPEAKER_00: Some of these are my just absolute favorite things to do.
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  SPEAKER_00: So
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  SPEAKER_00: The first one is Abhyanga, which is self-oil massage.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you want to use a warm oil.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is great to do in the morning after doing any lymphatic drainage.
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  SPEAKER_00: So try Abhyanga before your morning shower.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it's recommended that you use sesame oil.
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  SPEAKER_00: Sesame oil is like what we call tri-dosha,
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  SPEAKER_00: which means it is going to be really balancing for any of your doshas.
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  SPEAKER_00: In Ayurveda, we have three doshas, okay?
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  SPEAKER_00: So vata is just one of three.
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  SPEAKER_00: You can also use an Ayurvedic oil, like a blend.
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  SPEAKER_00: So personally, I use the daily massage oil by Banyan Botanicals.
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  SPEAKER_00: It is absolutely heavenly.
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  SPEAKER_00: And what you want to do is massage your entire body with long strokes.
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  SPEAKER_00: So start at the feet and kind of work your way up.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you want to always stroke twice.
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  towards your heart and then around your joints you want to use
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  circular motions on
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  the joints so very similar to how you would do like a full body
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  dry brushing which
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  SPEAKER_00: works really well if you want to do that before the oil massage
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  SPEAKER_00: So this practice, it's really deeply calming for the nervous system.
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  SPEAKER_00: It helps to counteract dryness.
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  SPEAKER_00: And of course, dryness is related to Vata.
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  SPEAKER_00: Personally,
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  I love chanting along to mantra music or repeating affirmations
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  when I'm doing this
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  SPEAKER_00: in the morning.
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  SPEAKER_00: You can light a
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  SPEAKER_00: handle.
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  There's a lot of ways you can make this a really just beautiful
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  few minutes of self-care.
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  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't have to take very long.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then after your oil massage, follow it with a warm shower.
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  SPEAKER_00: You don't want it too hot,
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  SPEAKER_00: but a warm shower really helps to allow the oil to penetrate even deeper.
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  SPEAKER_00: And it's really healing for lubricating your joints, reducing anxiety.
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  SPEAKER_00: And like I said, even five minutes of this can just really transform you.
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  And you're going to feel like you're walking out of a spa,
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  like first thing in the morning.
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  SPEAKER_00: So try it out.
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  SPEAKER_00: And I think you'll really love it.
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  SPEAKER_00: The second technique or
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  SPEAKER_00: practice you can do is deep belly breathing.
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  SPEAKER_00: This is so simple.
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  Honestly,
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  like one minute of this,
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  three to five minutes is a great place as well.
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  But this also helps to relax the nervous system and it helps
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  get you out of your
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  SPEAKER_00: mind and drop deeper into the connection with your body.
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  SPEAKER_00: And we all know we store a lot of our
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  SPEAKER_00: trauma and triggers and fears, you know, physically in the body.
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  SPEAKER_00: So by breathing deeply,
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  SPEAKER_00: connecting to the low belly,
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  SPEAKER_00: we can start to release some of that stress.
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  SPEAKER_00: And so for deep belly breathing,
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  SPEAKER_00: you want to place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly,
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  SPEAKER_00: breathe slowly and deeply,
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  SPEAKER_00: feel your belly rise and fall.
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  SPEAKER_00: And also I love to visualize my energy drawing down, grounding,
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  SPEAKER_00: any of that scattered,
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  SPEAKER_00: anxious,
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  maybe vada energy into the earth and letting it disintegrate
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  into the earth.
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  SPEAKER_00: Give it up to God.
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  SPEAKER_00: So that is a very simple practice for deep belly breathing.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's also really good to do at night.
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  SPEAKER_00: If you struggle with insomnia, this can really help.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then the third and final practice,
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  SPEAKER_00: practice you can do is to eat warm, grounding foods.
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  SPEAKER_00: So think root vegetables, hearty soups, and stews.
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  That's what we see a lot of in restaurants right now that are
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  seasonally minded.
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  SPEAKER_00: So that's the type of food that can really help to balance the airy,
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  SPEAKER_00: the vada,
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  SPEAKER_00: that sort of cooler air and energy that is
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  SPEAKER_00: you know, happening in nature right now.
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  SPEAKER_00: So stews,
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  SPEAKER_00: warming teas,
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  SPEAKER_00: all the way through the fall and even through winter,
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  SPEAKER_00: think,
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  SPEAKER_00: you know,
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  SPEAKER_00: sweet potatoes,
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  SPEAKER_00: beets,
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  SPEAKER_00: carrots,
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  SPEAKER_00: ginger tea,
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  SPEAKER_00: warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom.
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  SPEAKER_00: You want to avoid cold raw foods right now,
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  SPEAKER_00: like salad or smoothies,
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  SPEAKER_00: and instead choose meals that feel nourishing and comforting.
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  SPEAKER_00: You know, the kinds that make you just want to slow down and savor your
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  SPEAKER_00: each bite.
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  SPEAKER_00: Y'all know I'm a huge fan of French cuisine and French culture.
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  SPEAKER_00: So think about some rich dishes that you can have that are more hearty.
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  SPEAKER_00: Those soups can really, really help to ground your energy.
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  SPEAKER_00: and leave you feeling really just restored.
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  SPEAKER_00: And so as you're moving through this week,
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  SPEAKER_00: I want to share a couple reflective prompts,
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  SPEAKER_00: some journal prompts that you can just contemplate this week.
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  So the first one is,
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  what area of your life might feel ungrounded right now?
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  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you're hearing this and you're like, Lex, I'm good.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm feeling very grounded.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amazing.
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  SPEAKER_00: Highlight that, right?
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  SPEAKER_00: But if there is an area that feels ungrounded,
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  SPEAKER_00: first of all,
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  SPEAKER_00: just notice,
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  take a moment and offer yourself compassion for whatever you're
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  experiencing in
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  SPEAKER_00: this area and ask yourself,
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  SPEAKER_00: what is one grounding practice I can commit to this week?
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  SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's trying out a morning oil massage before a shower.
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  SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's three minutes of deep belly breathing before bed.
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  SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's simply choosing a warm stew.
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  You know,
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  whatever it is,
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  choose something that feels supportive and sustainable.
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  SPEAKER_00: Remember,
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  SPEAKER_00: when we balance vata within ourselves,
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  SPEAKER_00: we're not just improving like our own personal well-being.
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  Yes,
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  we are doing that,
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  but we're also contributing to the greater collective calm.
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  And I think we can all agree right now that is always something
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  the world can use more of.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's your peace.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's your calm.
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  That frequency,
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  that energy is felt by other people and it ripples out into the
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  world.
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  SPEAKER_00: So it's very, very important.
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  SPEAKER_00: Self-care is never just for us.
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  It's for the work we do,
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  our mission in life,
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  and it's for touching those around us and
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  having that ripple just catapult throughout everyone we come
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  into contact with.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_00: All right, you guys.
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  SPEAKER_00: So that is all for this week.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to Through the Veil.
• 15:40
  Make sure you subscribe on Substack if you want to go deeper
• 15:44
  and be the first to
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: know about my next workshop or retreat.
• 15:48
  You can always message me directly on Substack if you have
• 15:50
  questions or reach out
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: if you want to book a consult.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: I have some links in the show notes below.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for tuning in.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: Om Shanti.
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  SPEAKER_00: Namaste.