Ayurveda & Autumn

Dosha dominating times with age, season and time.

Age:

Time:

Seasons:

This is Vata season — Autumn –to– winter —- Vata

This is Vata season! Autumn to winter in New Zealand sees strong Vata in our bodies. It is a time of change. Temperatures drop and days become shorter sunsets are more beautiful and vibrant. Leaves change colour. In a nutshell, everything is in a state of flux.

Ayurvedic Management in Autumn

Ayurveda is all about being in harmony with our surroundings. When the world around us is changing we have to adapt. Doing so helps us stay in balance and in good health.

A key step before embarking on any Ayurvedic program in Autumn is to first acknowledge Vata dosha is strong in autumn. With this in mind, here are five easy steps to achieve good health and be in balance in Autumn.

Pay attention to diet: I recommend Vata pacifying diet, filling, oily, spicy food preferably cooked fresh and served hot. Think of soups for lunch with a dollop of butter or your favourite curry for lunch, hot porridge as opposed to cereal and milk for breakfast and a hearty stew for dinner. Consider hot/warm dessert as opposed to ice-cream. Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables- prefer heavy ones with plenty of water content, wear bright clothes like yellow-orange, wear light perfume keep yourself warm through the day. Take time to observe changes in surroundings e.g. changing colours and different shades of leaves, leaves falling, trees without leaves, the aroma of winter, the smell of wood fire, fog, frost etc.

Dinacharya: Dinacharya is following a rhythm or routine in Ayurveda. Follow regular times for waking up, breakfast, lunch tea dinner exercise and so on. Build time for quiet reflection either in the form of meditation or writing your journal, read scriptures listen to discourses sing or listen to calming music in the evenings. Sit in steam room Ayurveda recommends steam as opposed to Sauna for pacifying Vata.

Massage: Abhyanga or whole-body massage with generous oil application is good for opening energy channels, removing toxins and relaxing the body. I recommend a calming oil like Vata oil but you can choose one that works for you. The key is to apply oil throughout the body. Either you or your partner can do the massage. Remember long gentle strokes are best for calming Vata.

Consider Detoxing Autumn is a time when we are beginning to slow down from the fast pace of summer. We often accrue lots of toxins with the indulgence we allow ourselves during summers. Our body is also preparing for what can be hibernation in winter for many. Removing toxins, giving the system a good cleanse is a great way to prepare our body during autumn.  At Ayuspa we have a range of detox programmes any of which can be modified for autumn. Our two Autumn top sellers are Balance and Rejuvenate. Take Triphala Traditionally used as a bowel tonic, it’s often prescribed as a mild laxative.
Reflect the world around you– “All over the world, people are being quarantined and are being compelled to practice social distancing. We are trying desperately to remain sane in a world that seems bordering on the insane. So, the time is just right for us to ponder, reflect, meditate, and discover the world within our own minds.”
― Avijeet Das

 

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Dr Rachna Kumar is a graduate in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. Rachna has practised Ayurveda for over 25 years in New Zealand, England and India.  She continues to attend conferences worldwide, is invited by various organizations for lectures, seminars, and workshops globally. She now offers specialist health and beauty services using Ayurvedic principles for women in Hamilton www.ayuspa.co.nz