How do you celebrate Autumn?
Fall 2022
“I love this time of year, as we wind down from summer and transition into Fall. The days become shorter and the rhythm shifts and the light and heat begin to subside. In order to stay in “sync with our environment” (As Ayurvedic traditions encourage us to do) we need to be mindful of the changes in the season, in our bodies and mind and focus on keeping our constitutions (doshas) balanced. Autumn is dominated by the “Vata dosha” (consisting of ether and air elements). It represents the mobile force of the universe and in our bodies, it’s responsible for all activities that involve movement. When the vata dosha is healthy, the qualities of optimal health, stability, creative enthusiasm and excitement for life, are in a balanced state. We use the tools that are available to us in the form of lifestyle changes, dietary, herbal, colors, aromas, and mantras, to keep the vata from getting out of balance as our external environment changes.
We encourage a stable routine in our lifestyle to maintain health during the fall season; regular exercise, eating, sleeping and waking at the same time, can promote good physical and emotional health during this dry and cold season. Warm, cooked foods; warm drinks, such as hot milk or ginger/cinnamon/basil tea also have an immediate balancing effect on vata. I like to focus on being grounded and creating stability in the body with our yoga practices and in Pilates that are strengthening, but not draining or depleting of our energies. Practicing ‘Alternate Nostril breathing’, and Ujjayi pranayama can encourage balance by providing warmth and stability in the body and mind. During the fall season and for the overactive vata mind, meditation is one of the best ways to be grounded and find calm and stillness.”
I will use my own energies to ‘un-decorate’ my house from “summer décor’ to ‘Fall’ with more grounding earth colors as we move indoors, bake some zucchini bread and homemade soup….and then light some of my Fall candles to create the smell of Autumn. Have a great Fall Season…and don’t forget to go for a walk outside as the leaves begin to blow off the trees and onto the ground. Namaste’
