I don’t have to point out that social media content is getting shorter by the day. Whether you’re on Instagr Tiktok or You Tube, or if you do the dance between all three you will have noticed that the videos are getting more bite sized with every update to the algorithm. We are all subject to the addictive nature of these platforms, often tapping on the icon without even taking a breath to consider - do I actually want to go there
Next time you wrap up a social media scrolling session, check in with how you feel.
If you feel inspired, expanded and at peace; GREAT
But if you’re feeling scattered, indecisive, self critical or irritable; I’ve got an explanation for you.
The Perfect Storm
It’s not just that social media serves up the highlight reel of everyone's life. Even if you exclusively follow creators who you feel to be authentic, inspiring, intentional, positive etc, it’s the format itself that is affecting us and throwing all the doshas into a tailspin.
First of all, even when we’re not actively using our phones, we are constantly (literally 24/7) being bombarded by electricity and radiation from wifi routers to the various “smart” devices that populate our homes. We might not be able to see or hear these frequencies but we do FEEL them.
EMF (electro-magnetic field) stimulates the nervous system and is proven to increase inflammation (heat) in the body. This physiological effect, coupled with our ‘phone in hand’ lifestyle; scrolling as we drink our morning coffee, scrolling while we commute, scrolling as we wait in line, while on the toilet and scrolling as we lay in bed at night is The Perfect Storm for creating dosha imbalance.
Your dosha on tec
The Vata dosha is dominant in most people living a typical modern lifestyle. It’s the dosha that governs the nervous system & the five senses. This means heightened sensitivity in these systems for people with high Vata. Especially sensitive to light, sound and movement, as Vata energy is about constant movement and change.
Let’s consider for a moment the current trend of the video content we are being served. It’s a brutal combination of bright, blue light, erratic clips of sound and music changing in tone and rhythm. And then there's the swiping action, like switching channels every 5-15 seconds and the nervous system having no way to anticipate what's coming next.
We’re not evolved to differentiate between an image that we are seeing on screen, from the real thing. The brain interprets it all as real; this puts our body on high alert.
The result of our tech-heavy lifestyle is a rapid rise in Vata imbalance. Manifesting as anxiety, a slew of ‘modern diseases’, mysterious auto-immune conditions and a worsening of the ‘old’ diseases. Studies show, time spent on digital devices places a very particular kind of stress on the nervous system and in turn the immune system. As well as diminishing our ability to concentrate and even our capacity to be compassionate.
Classic symptoms of Vata imbalance
The Vata dosha is connected to the air/wind/space elements, when there is an excess (or what we call in Ayurveda) an imbalance of the air element, we will experience feeling ungrounded. When we are disconnected in this way, we lose touch with our body, our intuition and the energy swirl around the mind like a tornado. It’s easy to get stuck in repeating thoughts and to feel insecure. That feeling of insecurity can present in many ways; whether it's about your face or body image, your relationship, even about financial security; it all boils down to a lack of connection to ourselves, our centre, a lack of grounding.
It’s also easy to become over-stimulated via the senses. The eyes absorb rapidly changing light and non-native blue light. The ears receive a cacophony of sound effects, songs and voices at a rate that is impossible for the human brain to process.
Being dominant in Vata is not all bad, it’s only when things are out of balance that we will feel this anxiety and overwhelm. Vata types are creative and free-spirited. Vata types are articulate, learn quickly and are great communicators.
Vata types are also more susceptible to physical and mental disease. Since Vata governs the nervous system, the senses and mind - we are prone to instability in these sensitive areas. Vata types also tend to have a more vulnerable immune system, meaning that we are extra sensitive to stress.
7 Physical signs
Dry skin and hair
Cracking joints, arthritis
Irregular digestion & appetite
Gas, constipation
Chronic pain
Degenerative diseases (particularly of the senses)
Weak immune system
7 Physiological signs
Anxiety & worry
Disturbed sleep & dreams
Inability to concentrate
Hypersensitivity
Chronic Fatigue
Fear of being alone, loneliness
Lack of compassion & empathy
What to do about it
I usually recommend a three path approach to restoring balance; 1) diet/lifestyle 2) appropriate yoga practice and 3) inner reflection to unearth the roots of the imbalance. There is so much we can do to support our bodies natural inclination to move in the direction of harmony and homeostasis. In the case of detangling ourselves from devices and bringing Vata down to earth, there are two simple steps you can take to start feeling more grounded
within days.
Light hygiene & Sleep
Alongside being more sensitive to light and sound, Vata types will experience disturbed sleep if we are not wise with technology. The type of light entering the eyes and being absorbed by the skin through the day, affects how we sleep at night.
The human brain is designed to digest three types of light: sunlight, moonlight and firelight. In the morning sun, there is a combination of blue and green light that actually helps us to feel awake, it’s wonderful to get that morning sunlight in your eyes and on your skin, the blue and green light work in concert. However, by the afternoon, this changes and we no longer are naturally exposed to this cortisol stimulating light spectrum.
The isolated blue-light that is emitted by screens (mobile phones, laptops,TV screens, even the refrigerator) is in a sense, indigestible. As it enters the eye and hits the pineal gland that resides in the centre of your brain, sending the signal that it’s morning and we need to be alert. . Not only does this mess with your third eye, but it also blocks the release of melatonin (the sleep hormone) that is supposed to release as the sunset
All to say, if you are looking at a screen through the afternoon there are a couple of must-do’s.
Wear blue light-blocking glasses during the day
Try to replicate the natural light as much as possible. Put your phone on “Night Shift” to automate from 2pm onwards, so your screen takes on an amber hue. Download the f.lux program, these two things simulate the firelight which the brain can recognise.
Absolutely no screen time after 6pm.
Cleaning up your light environment will impact your ability to sleep immediately. We need the tamas guna quality that provides rest to balance Vata. When we prioritize sleep, getting into bed by 9-9.30pm we are more likely to catch the natural wave & receive the restoration we require to feel grounded and effective throughout the day. The body needs this time and space to regulate the nervous system, discharge EMF from the system and restore clarity of the senses. We also need this time to psychologically process all the stimulation and impressions we’ve been exposed to. The sheet volume of images, videos, conversations and ideas that we witness each day is far more than our psyche can metabolise.
If you are not getting the 8+ hours of deep sleep that Vata types need, book an initial consultation today. Click here
Disconnect to Reconnect
A research study by Harvard University, shows that our capacity for human connection, compassion and empathy decreases with the number of hours spent on digital technology each day. What they didn’t study, but I can surmise is that connection to ourselves, self compassion and inner empathy is also reduced. This is all upstream causes for feeling insecure, unworthy and forgetting who we truly are; inherently worthy and eternally supported.
Through Ayurveda we understand the above as signs of excess Vata. When we get stuck in the swirling upper realms of the thinking mind, we disconnect from feeling and the physical body.
If the majority of your human connection is happening through email, messages and social media; the screen acts as a barrier for touch and energetic connection. Our connection muscles become weak. With IRL connection, comes compassion and empathy, feeling for and with another being. Be sure to balance your screen time with in-the-flesh connections each day.
When we intentionally look away from the screen and look within, we tap into an inner resource of remembrance.
If you’re scattered, consumed with future worry and anxious thoughts, here are the two most efficient ways to discharge the current of technology from your body and mind.
Connect to something beyond the screen via a Vata balancing yoga practice. Go slow and focus on opening the lower body.
Food is your Medicine. Vata balancing foods that help to absorb and reduce the effects of EMF and tech-stress are warm, cooked fruits and vegetables. Soaked and cooked grains, warm dairy milk with spices, ghee and dates. And eat regularly, every 4-5 hours.
Get grounded, literally. Bare feet on the earth. It only takes a matter of seconds for the negative ions of Mother Earth to move your entire body, mind, nervous system and senses back into balance. Arrange to walk with a friend or just take some deep breaths outside, allow your eyes to soak in the horizon, breeze in the leaves or clouds in the sky.
Learn more on optimising sleep and how to eat inline with Ayurvedic principles in Living Ayurveda, my online, self-study pathway linked here.
