Autumn comfort

Autumn is Vata season in Ayurvedic philosophy.

Vata and Autumn shares the qualities of movement, change, dryness, cold, light, changeable, quick and irregular.

We have certainly seen very sudden irregular changes in the weather, the beauty of change in the colour of the trees, we are definitely feeling colder and there is movement as the cool wind starts blowing.

This can manifest in our body and mind as: dryness, anxiety, worry, achy joints, changes in our digestive patterns including constipation and even insomnia.

We can’t change our external environment or the stresses that comes with it. But we can reduce the Vata aggravating qualities in our daily routine.

Try these simple ayurvedic tips:

• Skip salads (which are cold, light and dry – all aggravating Vata)

• Enjoy stews, soups and warm foods

• Add warming digestive herbs to your cooking: ginger, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, basil, fennel and black pepper

• Drink warm drinks: hot water, ginger tea (use fresh ginger), or herbal teas such as fennel, cumin and thyme

• My favourite: practise Abhyanga. Warm up some good quality organic oil and give your self a massage E V E R Y D A Y. Yes, this is a daily ayurvedic practise which not only gives us beautiful skin but also calms down Vata. Traditionally sesame oil is used as it is warming and a little heavy. But if that is too much any vegetable oil will do. Have a warm shower to wash off

• Move. Practise yoga, go for walks (but wear a hat), dance, do some Chi Kung

• Breathe. Take time to breathe every single day. Start the day with a few rounds conscious full breath. Inhale and exhale

• Have an Ayurvedic Detox at home – find more info here

Enjoy the beauty, the comfort and embrace change as we move through autumn.

Anja

I have just opened my DetoxAndRejuvenate.com website where you will find recipes and a whole one day regime for a one day ayurvedic detox. Please join me and share with your friends.