Think fall season & the first thing that comes to your mind is dryness & roughness in the weather. In Ayurveda terminology, these qualities of autumn season can be decoded in the language of energetics as Vata season which possesses similar traits as that of dryness, roughness, cold & windy environment. Also, fall is the time of transition from hot to cold season & the spells of dryness & windy air begin to show-up in the nature. Trees & plants begin to dry out, earth begins to get browner with the green quality in the nature diminishing.
Does this tell us anything about our own selves?
We are the microcosm of the macrocosm & all that is going on in the nature is replicating itself within our own selves. Body feels drier, skin feels rough, mind may feel ungrounded & spacey & your orientation slowly begins to shift from cold foods to hot foods & beverages. The shifts in nature lead to imbalances in the body & mind that make us feel drier & spacey during this seasonal transition. Thus, adjusting diet & lifestyle is important for inner balance during this time.
Yoga & Ayurveda fall practices support that inner balance that we need for a healthy body & sound mind specially during the transition phase. Adopting grounding Yoga practices, balancing foods & slowing down lifestyle during this time can go a long way in supporting a healthy transition from autumn to winters.
Balancing Yoga & Ayurveda Guidelines for Fall Season:
- Bring Rhythm & Flow to Your Day: Vata tendencies are higher in the nature during fall & such tendencies may show up in our mental patterns too in the form of spacey, anxious, overwhelming & ungrounded feelings. Having a daily routine avoids that spaciness to set in.
- Reset Digestion: Fall season is the transition time between summers & winters & you are moving from eating light & airy foods towards denser & heavy foods according to the changing energies. The digestion must be prepared for digesting these heavier & dense foods. Best ways to strengthen the digestive power include eating less & not consuming raw, dry foods to give digestion the required break it needs before the onset of winters. Including churana blends like trikatu powder & ginger also fuels the agni.
- Perform a Detox: If you experience a slowdown during the fall season, it’s the burden of summer toxins you are carrying within you that slow you down. Perform a gentle cleanse consisting of soups, stews & khichdi to rest the system for the upcoming season.
- Include Grounding Foods in Diet: In Vata season the dire need of the body is deep nourishment. Include more or substantial, oily & nourishing foods in diet this time of the year. Consume warm foods with warming & stimulating spices to stay moisturized within. Stay away from dry, dehydrating, raw foods that can set in Vata tendencies. Go high on foods like pumpkins, ghee, fats, oatmeal, steamed vegetables, hearty grains, soups, and stews.
- Adopt Grounding Yoga Practices: Yoga this time of the year must be about grounding & earthing practices to establish connection with Mother Earth. Thus, practices that bring about strength, stability & stillness within you neutralize the Vata intensity. Following Yogic practices help you ground during fall season:
1. Sun Salutations to counteract autumn chill and keep body warm & in circulation.
2. Twists – To squeeze out abdominal toxins. Practice Revolved Triangle Pose.
3. Side Stretches: To breakdown toxins & create space in the body. Practice Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose.
4. Backbends: To regain spinal flexibility & support smooth nervous system activities. Practice Bow Pose.
5. Strengthening & Stabilizing Postures: To support a sense of strength & stability. Practice Warrior I & II.
6. Relaxation: Savasana practice to settle down the Vata movement.
- Adopt Nourishing Lifestyle Practices: Adopt Ayurveda practices to keep nasal cavity clear. Practice Jal Neti & Nasya practices for well-lubricated nose. Practice Abhyanga with sesame oil or herbal oil to ground yourself & relieve the feelings of anxiety.
- Stay Grounded & Focused: Staying focused is the best way to deal with the imbalanced Vata energy that leads to many distractions that cause anxiety & mood swings. Bring in focus in your daily life & grounding with nourishing foods, root vegetables, warm massaging oils, yogic & meditation practices.