As part of their introduction to Ayurveda, Axis YTT students have the opportunity to design an experiment around their dosha. This student must make significant diet changes in an effort to be a better balanced Vata. And finds other Vata recommendations to be a pleasant addition to the daily routine.

This doesn’t look like so much, but this is nearly all that I eat. For breakfast I normally eat granola and yogurt with strawberries so I could keep the strawberries, but the rest is out. Lunch was a salad all-raw and crackers dry. Dinner was a little better because I eat meat, or fish and vegetables sometimes cooked and sometimes raw. It has been a challenge and fun to find different foods to eat. I have even cooked a few times. It has been the house chuckle that I do know how a stove works. By the 3^rd day of my experiment I could tell a noticeable difference in my digestive track, in the past I had never noticed pain but I did have bloating and discomfort. As a result of the dietary changes it has felt softer or easier and less agitated hard to explain. That 3^rd day was Halloween day and I work with an 11year old autistic child so we went trick or treating. The people were so generous, they gave me candy too, and of course I ate it. The next day I had an upset stomach and loose bowels and while this got better, I continued to feel pretty queasy for the next 2 days. . I am not sure if this was related to the junk food or an intestinal virus. During those 2 days I ate vata foods but mostly soft foods soup, applesauce and scrambled eggs. I have been feeling well the last 4 days and since have been eating the Vata diet there is a definite improvement in my digestion. I was hoping there would be no difference and I could return to my old eating style. I will have to look at this and see how I can incorporate these foods into my diet. I still don’t like my veggies cooked and I love granola for breakfast. I hope over time my taste will change and I will grow to enjoy this style of eating.