Transition to Fall
Autumn is a transitional season, easily gliding us along from summer to winter. We can still bask in the warm, golden days, but the nights and mornings begin to get crisper. We sense the change occurring as school opens, Halloween decorations appear, football returns to the field, and Pumpkin Spice is everywhere!
As the days are shorten and the light dims, we can begin to notice Autumn’s effect on us and our habits. We may experience some of the effects of the season such as cold hands or feet, restlessness and trouble sleeping, arthritis and achy joints, low energy, digestive disturbances, anxiety and racing mind. These are the imbalances of the Vata Dosha, and Vata’s season is Autumn.
The characteristics of the Vata Dosha are dryness, roughness, mobility, cold, brittle, fast, inconsistent. These are similar to the season of Autumn when the wind blows cold and dry, plants become brittle and rough, some days are warm, and some days are cold. It’s the season of change.
One of the principle laws of Ayurveda states “like increases like”, this makes it possible that we may experience the season’s effects, and it can increase the Vata Dosha in our own constitution, though we may be primarily Pitta or Kapha. Vata effecting the other dosas is quite normal, as Vata is the primary dosha, the motivating force of the other dosas, without it the other dosas are stuck, immobile. It is only when there’s an excess of Vata that we need to be mindful of its effects on us and take action to get things back in balance. Balance through Ayurveda involves taking the opposite approach to the condition; hot needs cold, fast needs slow, dry needs wet, or oily according to Ayurveda.
Proper nutrition, exercise, rest, pranayama, and meditation are the five foundations that play a major role in maintaining balance of the doshas. According to Ayurveda, adopting a suitable lifestyle that aligns us to nature and five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether) is essential for good health and balance. Remember, it is good to live as close to nature as possible, and aligning yourself with the seasons does just that.
Proper nutrition during Vata/Autumn is like every season, your food should be what is available in your area, what’s in season. This time of year, many of us naturally long for warming foods and find salads cold and unsatisfying. Warm apples and soups, warm spices (rosemary, cumin, cardamon, cinnamon, and ginger), oatmeal, sweet potatoes, hot teas, and kitchari. The list is endless, simply chose what is at your local farmer’s market and warm it up. Try keeping a consistent eating schedule to ward off the inconsistent nature of Vata and avoid overeating.
Exercise is still important during this season, even if the one of the negative characteristics of the season is excess movement. Slow your practice down a bit. Focus on grounding practices with stable standing poses, floor practice, and long savannas. Yin is an especially good option to calm the erratic nature of Vata with long holds and practices on the ground. Moon practices deliver a healthy dose of moderate movement coupled with supporting pranayama and meditation.
Restorative yoga also has its place this season and should be mixed into everyone’s routine. Rest is important, as is a consistent bedtime routine that guides you gently to sleep. Insomnia can be a problem, as can restless sleep because of the shortening days and longer nights. Create a winding down practice of restorative yoga, warm baths, a light sesame or almond oil massage, aromatherapy, soft interior lighting, and an absence of electronics. Daytime rest can take the form of a 20 minute Yoga Nidra practice, a quick nap, or a professional or self massage. All or these boost your health through good circulation and promotion of relaxation.
Certain methods of Pranayama can also be forms of relaxation, as that is the key for the Vata season of Autumn. Exhalation is primarily Vata and can lead to depletion if done in excess. Right Pranayama practice in the morning for Vata is to block the left nostril and breathe only through the right. This has a solar or energizing effect. In the evening, blocking the right and breathing through the left nostril has the essence of the moon and is calming for a good night’s sleep. Anxiety and stress are then diminished, and there is a sense of balance and harmony. Ideally these practices last for 10-15 minutes at a time and can be combined with meditation for an optimal effect.
Sunrise and sunset are the Vata times of day and excellent for meditation. A daily practice of 10-20 minutes is ideal to bring intention and well being to our mind and spirit. Connecting to the Self creates resilience and grounding not found in the other practices. For heightened Vata, it is best to do Mantra meditations or visualizations; however, simply taking five minutes to be still and focus on the breath is easy and beneficial to everyone this season.
Listening to our bodies and minds, as well as our emotions, helps us to identify our needs this season and all year round. Eating fresh, nutritious food, taking rest and moderate exercise, and practicing pranayama and meditation help lead us to the health and well being we crave, it leads us to increased productivity and satisfaction with our lives, Bliss and Moksha are within our grasp.
Enjoy Fall