With the changing of the season, you might notice some changes with your internal state as well. Fall is ruled by the Vata dosha, the dosha ruled by the elements of air and ether. If you have felt spacey, suffer from dry skin, or are experiencing anxiety, trouble falling asleep, bloating, gas, or indigestion, there is a chance that you are experiencing excess Vata in your system. In order to resolve the symptoms of excess Vata, you must balance it.
As the fall begins and the weather changes from the hot summer months of Pitta into the cold and dry Vata months of fall and early winter, here are some practices you can put into place to ensure you stay balanced all season long!
Establish a Routine
Vata is known for the energy of here, there, and everywhere! Vatas love to be spontaneous and go with the flow. However, the best thing to do for Vata is to add some structure. Start by establishing a morning routine.
Example morning routine:
Wake up around the same time each morning (in Ayurveda, the best time to wake is by 6am).
Scrape tongue, brush teeth, wash face, use bathroom
Drink 8 fl. oz. of water to wake up the body system
Drink a hot beverage (for Vata, warming teas are best such as ginger or chai)
Eat a warm breakfast like cooked potatoes or oatmeal
Make a gratitude list. Begin your day by manifesting calm and peace.
Once you have a morning routine established that suits you, stick to it! Try to eat your meals at the same time everyday to make it easier for your body to digest your food. And if you love your new morning routine, try to create your own evening routine as well! Remember to go to bed around the same time each night to get a good amount of sleep.
Eat Foods that are Balancing
Vata energy is light, dry, cold, and rough. In order to balance Vata, eat foods that have the opposite qualities; foods that are dense, oily, warming, and smooth. You will also find that foods that are balancing for Vata are foods that are naturally in season during the fall and winter months.
Example of balancing foods for Vata:
root vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots, and yams
cooked whole grains like brown rice, steel-cut oats, and quinoa
any kind of nut or seed
sesame or almond oil
natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or stevia
ginger and tumeric
When preparing meals, opt for cooked meals over raw. The delicate digestion of Vata does not do well with raw vegetables or fruits.
Slow Down
Vata season is known to be fast-paced with the start of school again, changing of the weather and environment, and the chaos of the holiday season. The best thing to do for this is to do things that are grounding.
Here are some ideas of practices that can help to slow down:
Practice mindfulness. Deliberately do things slower and complete one task at a time. The more mindful we are, the more aware we become and will then be able to make more conscious choices.
Try meditating. Start out by spending just two minutes closing your eyes, bringing your awareness to your breath, and allowing thoughts to pass through your mind without attaching to them.
Go to a yoga class! Moving the energy around and then letting it settle with yoga is very soothing to Vata.
Take a walk through nature. Connecting with the earth is a great way to feel grounded.
As mentioned earlier, opposite energy to the air and ether will bring Vata back into balance. Focus on foods and activities that have an earth energy. And if you are a Vata dosha, pay extra mind to these guidelines and incorporate them year-round to feel your best, vibrant self! Click here for herbs, oils, and teas to help balance the Vata dosha. (paid link).
Happy Autumn! Stay balanced my friends.
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