Happy Vata Season!
Ayurveda guides us to be in conscious relationship with the seasons of nature and the seasons of our life. Ayurveda teaches us that we are part of nature’s cyclical rhythms. That, we ARE nature- we are not separate from it. Seasonal practices are referred to as “Rutucharya”, in Sanskrit. These practices include medicine in the form of elemental rituals, self-care, food, spices, and herbs. Rutucharya helps protect our senses, nourish our body, align to intuition, and elevate our innate-resiliency.
And, here we are in our Vata season! In the Northern hemisphere this means we are experiencing our transition into fall/ early winter. I will be the first to say, I have a really hard time in the cold (if you know me, you know this, lol)! Fall and winter, typically have a huge effect on my skin, mood and energy levels. Ayurveda has truly brought me a lot of support in so many ways. I’ve learned so much about keeping my body/ spirit warm internally and over the years, that I’ve started looking forward to the quietude and reflective energies this season brings.
Through balancing fall/winter practices, we can anchor into a health-full expression of prana and a calmed vata: flow, creativity, reflection, and connection to spirit + dreams. When we nourish and ground ourselves well during this season, we can decrease the confusion, insomnia, low energy and anxiety that can sometimes get activated. Instead we can cultivate a sense of healthy boundaries, coziness + closeness with our self and loved ones.
Here are some rhythms and rituals that are encouraged for this season:
- Rise slowly in the morning & give gratitude as you place your feet on the ground.
- Try and connect with the morning sun to support your emotions and mood (even for 5 mins, and even if you can only look through your window)!
- Keep your body warm (especially your neck, feet and low back).
- Enjoy abhayanga (oil massage) daily.
- Take prana-moments throughout your day: practice 5-10 deep breaths before meals.
- Use warm almond oil, sesame seed oil, brahmi oil or ghee to massage over your feet before bed.
- Apply a drop of jasmine, geranium, sandalwood, or vetiver essential oils to your pulse points.
- Make a warm drink at night before bed to encourage rest (haldi/paspoo milk, etc.)
- Use weighted blankets to help calm your nervous system- especially at night before bed.
- Practice longer savasana or even yoga-nidra nightly.
Vata Balancing Foods are the Following:
- Enjoy naturally sweet, sour and salty, warm, unctuous and soupy foods.
- Limit bitter, astringent or overly pungent (spicy), raw, cold, dry and crunchy foods.
- For example, include some of these into your season: squash soups, pumpkin curries, rasam, mung daal soups with sweet potatoes, savoury congee, oat porridges, or baked apple with cinnamon and cardamom
Vata Balancing Spices + Plants:
- These spices and plants can help keep you warm, grounded and nourished: hing (asafoetida), ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, nutmeg, tamarind, tulsi (holy basil), yasti madhu (licorice). Spices are such a huge support during this season!
- I love adding a pinch of nutmeg into drinks before bed!
Vata Tea Recipe:
- Irregular digestion? Try this tea for a balance of warmth + belly soothing: Simmer 1 inch of fresh ginger grated, with 1/4 tsp of fennel seeds for 10 mins in 2 cups of water. Then steep a tulsi tea bag or 1/2 tsp of dried leaves, covered for 10 mins. Strain and sip in the day!
The dryer/ cooler season (and seasonal transitions) can activate vata dosha, increasing internal cold and dry qualities (space and air elements) within the body-mind. This can lead to irregular digestion, insomnia, nervousness, overwhelm and anxiety. Through balancing practices, we can find more peace, creativity and flow. We can return home to ourselves for quietude, warmth, and reflection.
With love,
Dr. Sairupa Krishnamurti N.D