I know it is officially the start of a new season from my digestion and appetite. With the change in the season also comes a complete lack of interest in my usual mixed greens salad and a sudden trouble digesting raw apples.
For those who don’t know, according to yoga and ayurveda, the autumn is vata season. Vata gives us the qualities of cold, dry, rough and mobile. You may have noticed that your skin is getting dry and rough. Because of the cooler temperatures you may also feel more inspired to exercise than in the middle of the summer. The idea during this, or any season, is to get the most out of the current opportunities, while balancing the drawbacks.
Before I forget, check out this vata video on Youtube and sUbScRiBe! https://youtu.be/VjFPVKTq-_Q?si=MoX58DWnbminHNEI
Lifestyle
GET ENOUGH SLEEP! This time of year often brings with it feelings of sleepiness. It is often said that Ayurveda tells us to never resist our bodily urges like holding in a sneeze. If you are feeling intense sleep pressure, get to bed! If you are feeling sluggish during the day despite sleeping well at night, you may benefit from vata’s need to feel light and bright. Get outside on sunny days and flip on bright indoor lights as soon as you wake up. You may benefit from an additional keyboard or desk lamp if your work is seated.
There is a standard morning routine incorporating oil massage that can go a long way to wake, warm and moisturize. 1) Drink a tall glass of warm water or tea. I have seen slightly different recommendations, but on the high side, drink a litre of water upon rising to replenish the litre of water we lose while sleeping. If that seems like too much to you, listen to your body and see how you feel with a smaller amount. We don’t need to make you waterlogged. 2) Warm up and invigorate with dry brushing – scrub your entire body with a dry brush or gloves, moving towards the heart. 3) Apply a warm oil to your entire body. You may even like to put a small amount in your nostrils. Sesame oil is recommended for vata types, but I tend to go for almond or apricot. 4) Resist the urge to have a super hot shower, because it can be drying. Ideally, you should be warm from the dry brushing and application of oil.
Depending on your home environment, use a humidifier. This is especially important at night as our skin become more porous and we lose more moisture.
Diet
During the vata season, favour COOKED foods. Traditional fall harvest foods tend to fall in to this category: butternut squash soup, apple crisp, slow-cooker meals, oatmeal, etc. I have had to say goodbye to salad until next summer. Sorry, Lettuce, see you in pitta season!
Resist the urge to boost your mood with caffeine. It may perk you up, but the diuretic effects can cause fatigue from dehydration. You may be able to get away with it during humid seasons, but once the furnace starts kicking in, it may tip the balance and send you in to dehydration. I recently heard that a small 6 oz coffee causes the loss of 16oz of water. On that note, stay away from alcohol! It will also dehydrate you. I’m a top-notch party pooper, unfortunately.
My favourite teas for vata are golden milk at night. And during the day I do hot water, lemon, black pepper, cayenne and honey.
I have switched to oatmeal for breakfast and put pumpkin pie spice on everything.
Sadly, this may mean saying good-bye to your favourite frozen smoothies until the weather warms up again. Opt for cooked fruit and vegetable mixes instead. On another sad note, avoid dried foods like chips, crackers, popcorn and other delicious crunchy treats. Either find a warm, moist alternative, or enjoy just a small portion. Our digestive fire is stronger before sundown, so you may also find it easier to sneak in a dry or cold treat earlier in the day.
Exercise
Morning exercise should invigorate without overwhelming. Vata and pitta types are encouraged to exercise at less than full-tilt, counter to their nature to avoid burning out. Afternoon practices can provide an energizing refresh. Evening practices help to provide rest and promote sleep. Remember that vata is dry and motion is lotion to our joints and tissues.
Digestion-promoting movement and yoga are really helpful here. Getting up and moving each hour and walking after each meal for a few minutes can be a big help. Any exercise promotes motility to move food and waste through your digestive tract. Keeping digestion at a healthy pace means that your stool won’t dry out and be harder to pass. (Holding it isn’t good for this… When you gotta go, you gotta go!)
Specific yoga poses to promote digestion include: knees to chest, alternating single knee to chest, supine twist, flowing bridge, lying prone, flowing in and out of child’s pose. If you’re feeling daring, you can add nauli to your morning routine. https://youtu.be/wYYGj544mPE?si=sqk0qsW_JFUTK-Ff
ZenwithGwen 