Are You a Vata Type? Here’s How You Should Exercise

The Vata dosha is ruled by the elemental building blocks of air and space (ether). According to Laksmana Das, academic dean at the California College of Ayurveda in Nevada City, Calif., Vata types love movement, tend to be leaner and lighter (and may have a hard time building muscle), and are inclined toward novelty and variety in activities.

There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these attributes. But pushed to an extreme, they can result in imbalances that drain the body and mind.

“The tendency with Vata is toward eating light and moving quickly, but both in excess can take them out of balance,” Das notes. “Vata can also get a little scattered when it comes to their attention. It’s easy for them to become out of balance because they can and try to do so much at once.”

So grounding practices — especially strength training — can go a long way. “Vata is the dosha of movement, but if you have an excessive amount, issues can arise,” Kucera explains. “If you’re looking for something that will balance the lightness of Vata, the answer is heavy weights.”

Vatas could choose a progressive strength-training program that emphasizes lifting higher weights for lower rep ranges. (Find a powerlifting-inspired workout to build your strength at “A Powerlifting Workout.”)

Kucera adds that slow-moving mind-body practices — emphasis on slow — can be great for Vata types. She suggests trying tai chi, restorative yoga, or a somatic workout.

None of this is to say Vatas need to avoid cardio completely, especially if they’re training for endurance races or they simply love the energy of running, biking, or swimming. Rather, the goal is to find balance.

Another grounding practice that can benefit Vatas is to create and maintain a regular schedule, says John Douillard, DC, CAP, founder of an Ayurvedic consultation practice in Boulder, Colo., and host of the podcast Ayurveda Meets Modern Science. Scheduling workouts in a calendar is not usually a Vata’s groove, but that simple strategy can help keep their energy controlled and simplify progressive training.

Finally, Vatas need to focus on recovery — especially when cardio is a major element of their movement, Douillard says. “Of all the doshas, Vata types have to be careful not to overdo what they tend to be good at, because they can burn out and risk injury.”