I’d like to address a type of question that comes up a lot: “I’m Vata, so shouldn’t I feel best in Vata season?”, or “I’m a Pitta, why do I struggle in Pitta season?” The principles of ayurveda are based on understanding the qualities of times, seasons, substances, and people, and that similar qualities increase, while opposites decrease. Vata people AND Vata season are characterized by the qualities dry, moving, clarity, and cool. So, a Vata person, who already has a tendency to dry skin and hair, dry digestion (think gas and constipation), and runs cold, will struggle in autumn, AKA Vata season, when the qualities outside exacerbate their natural constitution, leading to digestive issues, feeling ungrounded, sleep struggles, and lowered immunity. Pittas, who run warm, sharp, and slightly oily, contrary to loving hot, Pitta season, usually don’t love summer, becoming overheated, irritable, and inflamed. Kaphas, who run cool, slow, steady, and heavy, do better in warm weather than winter, when the damp, heavy, cold, snowy weather can increase feelings of sluggishness and stagnation. (Of course, dual doshas and imbalances can blur the lines here and make it confusing to understand your mind-body type, hence the benefit of a one-on one consultation!)
Vata season is coming, and really, any dosha can get thrown out of balance as mother nature does a scene change. And if you have a good amount of Vata dosha in your nature, it’s an especially important time to start preparing your body for the seasonal shift by bringing in Vata balancing qualities: moist, steady, dense, and warm.
Here are some of my favorite Ayurvedic self care tips for staying centered and grounded in Vata season:
Abhyanga: Because DRY is one of the primary qualities of all, ayurveda looks to balance it with lubrication and moistening. That means oiling up your body from head to toe with deeply nourishing oils. This practice is called Abhyanga, and is especially important if you live in a dry place, and even more important during the drying season of autumn. Using oil on your body is different to lotion. For one thing, lotions can contain all kinds of preservatives, fragrances, and other questionable ingredients. Your skin is your biggest organ, so a good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, don’t put in on your skin. Additionally, the oil allows your hands to slide and massage your body, which is one of the best ways to move lymph and support your lymphatic system to do its work of removing toxins. Traditional abhyanga oil for autumn is organic sesame oil infused with nourishing herbs. My favorite is this one from Banyan Botanicals. The ideal time for abhyanga is 20 minutes before you bathe.
Stay Warm: The changing temperatures throw our body’s rhythms for a loop. Lowered body temperatures mess with digestion, reduce immunity, and can increase vata in general. Dress in layers, bring a thermos of tea with you, and keep your head and feet covered when it’s chilly or windy. Cold and wind are especially exacerbating to Vata dosha, so take care to protect yourself. A warm scarf wrapped tightly around your abdomen is a favorite fall practice to protect your vital organs from cold and wind, and can be really flattering too!
Slow Down: Take it from me: keeping too much on your schedule is a cause for anxiety, trouble sleeping, and illness. Now is the time to start simplifying your days, be picky when it comes to social engagements and commitments, and schedule downtime. Slow down your yoga and exercise practices, and get to bed by 10. Do more mentally calming things like alternate nostril breath, yoga nidra, mindfulness, and meditation. Here’s a free Chakra Balancing Meditation I recorded for the awesome app Insight Timer, check there for many more guided practices of mindfulness and yoga nidra.
Eat Vata Balancing Foods: Think moist, dense, and warm, like stewed fruit and porridge in place of granola, roasted root veggies and proteins in place of sandwiches, and sauteed greens in place of salads. Drizzle olive oil or ghee on top of foods. Use warming digestive spices, such as this DIY Immune Boosting Spice Mix. Avoid dry, cold, crunchy foods like rice cakes, iced drinks, and popcorn. Drink plenty of herbal tea!
Nasya Oil: Nasya is a practice of putting oil in your nose to keep your sinus passages nourished and lubricated. Additionally, like with abhyanga, traditional oils are infused with herbs. In the case of nasya, because the oils will directly reach the brain, traditional oils contain medhya rasayanas, which means they support brain function, intelligence, and memory. This one is my favorite! Simply turn your head to each side and sniff in a few drops of the oil, OR, lay down in bed and let a few drops drip in through each nostril for 10 minutes.