7 Tips for Autumn Balance
We’ve had a huge stretch of long hot days this summer…definitely noticing more extremities with our climate changing.
Finally, it feels like we’re in Autumn. Welcome to VATA SEASON.
I’m always a bit sad when daylight saving ends but at the same time, the freshness in the air on morning runs is enlivening and curling up under the doona at night is comforting and great for restful sleep.
Autumn brings a predominance of the ELEMENTS associated with the VATA DOSHA: AIR & SPACE. And so the qualities of these elements dominate the external environment, and therefore have a strong influence on our internal mind-body environment.
Vata qualities are DRY, ROUGH, WINDY, ERRATIC, COOL AND CLEAR; all qualities that come into play dosha. As our external environment changes, so too does our own internal environment. Vata increases.
By living in tune with the natural laws of the season, we can maintain a sense of balance, and we will be able to BUILD A STRONGER NATURAL IMMUNITY against the bugs that tend to attack during colder weather.
Here are 7 TIPS to balance your Vata with warmth, moisture and groundedness.
INCREASE WARM COOKED FOODS over cold cereals and milk, salads and smoothies. Notice this food is more nourishing on cool, overcast or windy days. This makes lighter work on your digestion, freeing up energy for healing and boosting immunity.
DRINK HOT WATER: So simple but it’s an elixir! Warming, hydrating and detoxifying
DRINK IMMUNE BOOSTING TEAS such as ginger (freshly grated) or Tulsi (Holy Basil, meaning “incomparable one”!) esp. for a cold, cough or flu, Cumin Coriander Fennel Detox tea. Try liquorice tea for a scratchy throat.
MASSAGE YOUR SKIN with warm (cold-pressed, not the toasted kind from the supermarket) SESAME OIL. It only takes 7-10 minutes - best investment of time for all the health benefits received! Moisturise your skin, lubricate deeper tissues and organs, increase flexibility of muscles and joints, balance hormones AND ALSO reduce anxiety, calm an erratic mind and nervous system. Basically the very best thing you can be doing to reduce excess Vata energy.
ADD ESSENTIAL OILS to a bath or diffuser that are warming and grounding to soothe the mind and emotions: Sweet Orange, Geranium Rose, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver and Frankincense
COOK WITH WARMING DIGESTIVE SPICES such as cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove.
PRACTICE ALTERNATE-NOSTRIL BREATH: It reduces stress, calms and rejuvenates the nervous system, prevents congestion and supports mental clarity and so much more. Here’s a link: https://vimeo.com/113516673