WME Tip--Balancing Doshas During Change of Season

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Even if you don't know your personal dosha, we are now moving into the summer Pitta Dosha season.  And every change of season also has a strong Vata element.  So here are some musical tips to help you balance the Pitta and Vata doshas.

For Vata, remember that slow, low, repetative and warming music balances the dosha.  So here are a list of recordings that can help you in balancing this dosha.

Marjorie de Muynck, In the Key of Earth, Sounds True
Lisa Spector and Joshua Leeds, Through a Dog's Ear Volumes 1 and 2, (works for humans too), Sounds True and BARD
Dr. Andrew Weil and Joshua Leeds, Relax and De-Stress/Deep Calm, Sounds True
The Miracles (and wine series) on Kirkelig Kulturverksted (Norway, kkv.no)
This series includes Spain, France, Italy and the New World (cello and piano anchor the music)

Also try the Alap section of Indian ragas and you can try relaxation CDs that feature nature sounds. Vata tends over intellectualizes, gets caught up in thoughts, is windy, flighty and nervous so balancing this dosha brings peace of mind.

For Pitta (fire) we often need to cool tempers and practice patience.  The body and mind can overheat during this time, anger could explode.  So to balance this dosha, you need to choose music that reflects your current emotional state and then work from that point.

So if you are feeling particularily fiery, than start with flamenco music, some rock music, fast Latin American music, Beethoven's 5th Symphony (1st movement) or Rachmaninov's Piano Concertos 2 & 3.  You can listen to the composition section of a raga (that's the fast and fiery section).  So match your mood and energy with music and then work your way to a calming place by slowly changing the music.

You could end with the pastoral movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, the Alap section (introduction) of an Indian raga, Native American flute, Celtic harp or other relaxing music.  This way you don't shock your system with music that opposes your moods.  I find that with Pitta (I have this dosha along with Vata), you must start with the faster more stimulating music and gradually work your way to relaxing music.

Try these suggestions and let me know if it works for you.  I would love to hear your input regarding any of the tips on this blog.

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