This week we are talking all about Vata! It is Vata season , which means it is mostly cold, dry and mobile (wind) in the weather patterns. It is important to keep this dosha in balance and in its proper seat to avoid production and accumulation of toxins. Vata dosha is a combination of the air and ether elements. This represents action, movement and transportation. The qualities of Vata are dry, light, cold, rough, subtle and mobile. Vata is in our movements, actions, breathing, speech, detox, heart pumping and sense of touch. It is the kindler of digestive fire, opener of cell walls and channels, and develops and delivers babies. The seat of Vata is in the abdominal cavity bellow the belly button in the large intestine and colon. It is also in the pelvis, thighs, skin, ears, bones, heart, brain, nervous system and lungs. Each dosha (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) all have 5 subdoshas that exist. Each of these subdoshas represents the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, earth) that tie...
What do we associate with the word “ kindness ”? It’s a term with many different facets: solidarity, generosity, mercy, humanity, sympathy, helpfulness, empathy. Kindness is the natural expression of the sutra “ recognise that the other person is you ”. And in his teachings, he consistently demanded that we show kindness, generosity and sympathy to everyone who crossed our path. Kindness is a powerful tool: the merest flash of kindness is enough to forge a connection between two people. Let us use an example of two people who have never met before. One of them notices that something is wrong – perhaps the other person has lost a bus ticket out of their pocket or their shopping bag has ripped open. Nothing major, really. And yet it’s enough for that person to pause, step out of the self-centredness that so dominates our existence (possibly too much so) and briefly pay attent...