Embrace Autumn with Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the “sister” science to yoga and the science of life. Simply put, it’s all about living in tune with our unique selves and the environment around us. We each have a unique constitution, known as a dosha, or a combination of. The doshas are made up of elements. The seasons too have a dosha and we are now moving from Pitta season, which is characterised by heat, to Vata which is cooler and windier. For those of us who love Summer, it can be hard to say goodbye!

Living seasonally can keep us healthier and happier. We need to surrender and embrace the changes. Here is how…

1. A good deep clean and clear out of the home can welcome in a new season but also be very cathartic too. Decide what needs to be repaired, recycled, passed on or kept at the start of each season. We do this same inner work when we journal, set intentions and release what no longer serves. This is the practical application of that. Then when the space is refreshed and the hard work done comes the fun part. If you like to make small changes to home decor with the seasons, now is the time to take out the more autumnal colours, add some throws and get creative with lighting. Scent wise - for my living areas I will burn amber, coffee, chai, and pumpkin scented candles from September to November moving to warmer cashmere, pines and orange as we move toward the end of the year.  For my yoga studio, my incense choices for class will move away from lavender and rose and towards oud and frankincense. It’s a subtle change in the atmosphere of a space that aligns the energy to the season.
2. Don’t hibernate just yet, get any outstanding summer bucket list events or trips in now before the weather gets too cold or if the venue is seasonal, they might close their doors October to April. Then make a plan for Autumn activities. Whether it’s botanical gardens, forest trails or visiting a warm salt cave for halotherapy, make a list and get things in the diary to look forward to. I have joined a gym that has a pool and juzucci as while I enjoy sea swimming in summer, especially after yoga on the beach, I do not enjoy the Irish Sea in autumn and winter thank you! Aqua aerobics and lane swimming will bridge the gap to Spring and keep up my swimming skills ahead of a trip to India in January where I will be running a retreat. The waves in Goa are big enough to surf in so I need to remain a strong swimmer to stay safe.
3. Self-care comes into its own in the colder months, I’m thinking long baths and early nights with a good book. With Ayurveda this is the perfect time for self-massage, known as abhyanga. Yes, it should be done year-long but particularly in Autumn, as it balances Vata and is relaxing. A sesame or sesame-based oil is perfect. If you are Vata dosha or have a Vata imbalance, in Vata season its particular important to address it, try adding lymphatic drainage massage to your spa visits. Yin and Restorative yoga are perfect for now. I teach these all year round but I double my restorative offerings as we get deeper towards Winter as it’s so nourishing and cocooning.
4. A big part of Ayurveda is eating locally and seasonally. If you buy the same fruits and vegetables 52 week of the year, then they are being imported. Why buy strawberries from X when blackberries and apples are in season? Where I live, they are in abundance and I find foraging them a mindful practice that I enjoy. With regard to vegetables think root - sweet potatoes, beets, butternut squash, and pumpkins of course. Add warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cardamon.
5. Finally, be mindful of your mental health as the days get shorter and darker as we edge towards the Autumn Equinox and later, the Winter Solstice. If you are prone to seasonal depression, a SAD lamp could be a great investment. Try to get outside while the sun is at its highest, especially if its dark when you are going to and from work. Statically we are probably all deficient in Vitamin D so a supplement, preferably one that also incorporate vitamin K for absorption is idea. For mood, look into Ashwagandha or Bramhi, both Ayurvedic* supplements.

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