Transition To Vata Season
“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” - Anne of Green Gables
Cooler air has arrived in most of the northern hemisphere and we can feel the wind shift. The air and ether elements are the most prominent in the Vata Fall season. Fall brings movement and change - where maintaining a routine and eating grounding foods is important for maintaining balance. Aggravation during the Vata season can show up in dryness, poor circulation, and restlessness or anxiety. There are several adjustments to stay grounded and keep our body warm and comfortable. Making subtle adjustments in our daily habits and diet can significantly impact our overall well-being.
Here are five recommendations for navigating the Vata Fall season:
Maintain a Routine: Create your Fall routine with regular scheduled meals and activities. The increase in air and ether elements during the Vata season can lead to a feeling of unease. Incorporate a 10-minute bed time routine where you put your phone away, do a few stretches, read a book, take a bath, sip tea, or journal. Maybe it’s all of the above :) It's important to slow down during Vata season because it is a time of a lot of energetic movement and if we are also moving at 100 miles per hour, we will easily get aggravated or sick. Even short practices that force you to slow down, can calm your nervous system and help your body relax.
2. Slow Down & Ground: To avoid feeling run-down and overworked, build in an extra 30 minutes or hour of sleep (if possible) or even a 20-minute nap. If more sleep feels like a luxury and not a possibility, be mindful of over scheduling your day. Vata season emphasizes a time for slower activities and keeping your body warm. Start wearing layers when you exercise outdoors. Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences and share a lot of overlap. A yoga practice is a wonderful addition to an Ayurvedic lifestyle, but even a few poses can have a huge effect. Here are three beneficial poses for the Vata season: https://www.whenliving.com/theseasonal/vatayoga
3. Warm Foods & Spices: It’s natural to crave warmer dishes during the cooler months - now make this a priority. Swap smoothies, salads and cold dishes for warm drinks, soups, and warm meals. Heavier and healthy oils are also helpful during this dry season. Two of our favorite Ayurvedic kitchen products for the Vata season are ghee and turmeric milk latte. Ghee is an essential ingredient in Ayurvedic cooking and helps the body stay hydrated from the inside out. Turmeric Milk Latte is a delicious warm liquid to add for Fall.
4. Eat Warming Foods and Herbs: Incorporate warm grounding foods like root vegetables, cooked fruits, healthy oils, and warming caffeine-free drinks. View the full Vata grocery list here https://www.whenliving.com/theseasonal/vataseasongrocery .
Hearty vegetables and fruits have more earth energy and this is helpful to balance Vata's air and ether energies.
5. Hydrate Your Skin: With more cool dry air, our hair and skin can more easily dry out. Using body oils on a regular basis is a helpful practice for maintaining balance for the skin. Oils absorb more easily into the skin than lotion and offer protection and cell repair. Hydrating by consuming liquids and hydrating by using oils nourishes tissues/joints, promotes healthy skin, and supports overall well-being.
By making these simple adjustments, you can gracefully transition through the Vata season, promoting a sense of well-being and balance in your mind and body.
Learn about the items in the Vata Box and how the products support you through the season.