Feature Article:
Vertigo & Vata: Support During Transition
Swastha
Practice:
A Simple Seasonal Cleanse
Seasonal Cooking:
Stewed Apple Decadence
Poem Medicine:
"I am in Need of Music" by Elizabeth Bishop
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Vertigo & Vata: Support During Transition
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Recently I had my first encounter with vertigo – the sense that the room is spinning and inner equilibrium is disturbed for no apparent reason. I woke up and before I even opened my eyes, I could sense that something was off – or rather, everything was off. When I stood up, the room pitched around me like I was standing on a boat in high seas. If it weren’t so utterly disorienting, it would have been fascinating.
It’s hard to think of a symptom more indicative of vata-gone-wild than vertigo. The ground is completely lost. The main vata qualities or gunas present are lightness (as my body seemed to float and spin in midair), mobility (yep), and subtlety.
Subtlety is not an easy quality to point at – it helps to consider its opposite, which is described in the ancient texts as “gross,” meaning tangible or perceivable. Subtlety, then, is that which is NOT tangible or concrete. It was evident in my knowledge that the room was not in fact spinning, while the very convincing input from my proprioceptive faculties said that it was. This “subtle” guna, apparent also in hallucinations or phantom pain, is a dramatic sign of aggravated vata.
After a few minutes standing up, the vertigo subsided, and I went about my day. However, the next morning it appeared again, an unbidden guest in my body and mind. One of the most unsettling aspects was...
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Swastha
Practice
"Swastha" is a Sanskrit word commonly translated as “Health” - however, "Swa" means Self, and "Stha" refers to being stable; thus "Swastha" literally means to be grounded and stable in your true self. It takes practice to feel your center, your truth, and it takes practice to remain rooted there. In this monthly column, I share practices to strengthen your sense of "Swastha."
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A Simple Seasonal Cleanse
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The transition into Spring is a traditional time in Ayurveda to undertake a seasonal cleanse. This practice includes dramatically simplifying your diet and daily routine for a time, offering needed space for the body and mind to restore equilibrium.
The benefits of a seasonal cleanse include resting your digestive organs, boosting your
agni
or digestive strength, getting rid of excess weight from the winter, reducing mucus and spring allergies, and more clarity and lightness in the mind.
The main principle to make it successful is “keep it simple.” In fact, simplifying is often both the medicine AND the result. Here is a template for a simple 3-Day Spring Cleanse.
1) Schedule
. Look at your calendar and pick a 3-day window when you will have the fewest demands on your attention and time. Plan to remove any unnecessary commitments. Including a weekend may make sense. Also schedule a time in advance to go shopping and gather any needed supplies.
2) Diet
. Again, the primary goal is to simplify. For 3 days, reduce the number of ingredients you consume as much as possible. A mono-diet (meaning the same dish for every meal) makes it easy on the planning as well as the digestion. Plain
kitchari
is the traditional Ayurvedic mono-diet choice. If that feels too austere, breakfast can be either cooked fruit (see recipe below) or a cooked grain cereal like oatmeal. Again, simple is key – don’t load it up with toppings. For a bit more variety, you can also change up the vegetable you add to the kitchari – but keep it simple by using only one vegetable per meal.
3) Self-massage/
Abhyanga
. Each morning before breakfast, give yourself a massage with warm organic oil. Sesame oil is the classic skin oil, or if you run hot, try cooling coconut oil or odorless sunflower oil. Let the oil penetrate the skin and enjoy the sensation of gentle loving touch as you nourish and protect the powerful organ of the skin. Then take a warm bath or shower to open the pores and allow greater absorption.
4) Triphala
. Each night before bed, let ½ teaspoon of
triphala powder
steep in a small amount of hot water, and drink it when it’s comfortably warm. (You can take organic tablets or capsules if the taste disturbs you - many health stores carry triphala now.) This herbal formula helps the body to remove toxins and waste. Its mild laxative action ensures that elimination is thorough. Continue this formula even after your 3-day cleanse is over for a few weeks. Many people take it every night throughout the year (although I do recommend discontinuing it during the menses). If you become constipated, increase the dose to 1 teaspoon.
5) White space.
Intentionally create some empty spots in your schedule during your cleanse. In our busy lives, it can be easy to lose time for reflection and “digesting” our experiences. Give yourself space to journal, or to simply sit and look out the window without any agenda at all. We NEED this mental break as much as the physical rest on the organs of digestion. Make space for meditation or other practices to focus and clarify the mind.
6) Conclude.
Mark the end of your cleanse with a gratitude practice. Notice how you feel – what feels different and how. Take care not to celebrate the end of your cleanse with a hard-to-digest meal. Return to heavier, more complicated foods gradually so you don’t experience digestive upset. Acknowledge your decision to care for yourself in this deep way, and give thanks for your body’s ability to restore and heal.
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During Spring when Kapha naturally peaks, it can be easy to feel heavy and lethargic, or to experience excess mucus. It is important to honor agni and eat only when hungry. If mornings are sluggish times for you, or if you have more morning phlegm, it can be helpful to eat a lighter breakfast, like this lovely fruit dish. Cooking apples make them good for vata too.
Ingredients
- 2 organic apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 4 soft dates, preferably Medjool, pitted and cut in half (raisins can work well too)
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon organic ghee
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
To Prepare:
Put all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until soft. Serve warm.
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Andrew Macara, "The Yellow Dress, Udaipur, India"
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I am in Need of Music
by Elizabeth Bishop
I am in need of music that would flow
Over my fretful, feeling fingertips,
Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,
With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow.
Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low,
Of some song sung to rest the tired dead,
A song to fall like water on my head,
And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!
There is a magic made by melody:
A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool
Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep
To the subaqueous stillness of the sea,
And floats forever in a moon-green pool,
Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.
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A certified Ayurveda Practitioner since 2010 with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Ivy has been helping women experience deeper health and healing for over 17 years. She offers natural support for digestive issues, menstrual cycle discomfort, stress-related disorders and more.
Read full bio.
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