In Ayurveda, ADHD is classified as a Vata imbalance. Vata is “wind energy”: it’s light, mobile, dry, cool, and changeable. It governs the movement of our bodies and our thoughts. While everyone has some vata in their constitution, those who have a who have a dominance of vata (i.e. a predominance of this light, moving and expansive energy), tend to have sensitive nervous systems. This means they experience the world with a heightened intensity and as a result, they’re prone to anxiety, inattention, hyperactivity, restlessness, and sleep problems.

Individuals that have ADHD are drawn to new activities (often sensory-stimulating in nature), adventure, movement and change. Yet they are balanced by the opposite: activities that are calming, nurturing, grounding and relaxing. Ironically, this means individuals with ADHD often create vicious cycles for themselves; engaging in activities and situations that agitate rather than calm, their already overactive nervous systems.

I endeavour to help individuals with ADHD by balancing their levels of vata in the central nervous system. Vata in the nervous system can be readily reduced using several holistic, natural, lifestyle approaches such as:

• Vata balancing yoga asanas: generally, yoga asanas for vata individuals are slow, grounding and calming in nature, occur in a warm, nurturing environment with soft light and music.
• Helping to create routine and structure: as individuals high in vata have a tendency towards chaotic fast paced lifestyles, creating a manageable routine together is often extremely helpful in reducing the amount of vata in the body.
• Warm, person centred communication: feeling loved and connected reduces vata.
• Learning a range of other helpful vata pacifying natural remedies