Hello Friends
“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”
Oscar Wilde
It is not often anymore that fall arrives before the month of October here in Phoenix. But this year Fall showed up in September. I have a funny way of tracking this. My sweet son Noah was born on September 27th and he just turned 18. Since 2001 it has been under 100 degrees only two times on his birthday. Friday 09/27/2019 was the second.
The mornings are beautiful and crisp, the nights are cool, and the climate is prime for Vata dosha to increase.
As we shift our lifestyle and diet to align with the season, we need to pay attention to how nature affects our body and mind. The qualities of Vata (and the fall season) are dry, cold, light, mobile, rough and irregular.
With that knowledge as our guide, it will be helpful to implement practices that are the opposite. Focus on rituals which are warming, grounding, soothing, and moisturizing. A daily massage with warmed sesame oil will do a world of good for grounding the mind and lubricating the body.
The foods Mother Nature provides during this season will facilitate us in our quest for nourishment and grounding. Incorporate sweet, salty and sour tastes while decreasing astringent, bitter and pungent. The latter three increase dryness in the body.
Moderately adding warming carminative spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger and cloves in will decrease gas and bloating. Ditching any cold salads, black tea or excessively spicy food will be helpful. Bring in soupier, grounding and well-oiled foods. I have a delicious Vata pacifying butternut squash and barley recipe that hits all these points you will find below.
Watch for anxiety, fear or insecurity creeping into the corners of your mind. Take a few deep calming breaths to alleviate them. I have recorded a great meditation to share this month for a grounding breath centric practice. You will find it below with the recipe.
Reduce the amount of rushing and movement. If you happen to be on the road, make sure to incorporate grounding practices to support the vata aggravation that travel can bring. Keep those in your pocket anytime you board a plane.
Dryness and tension in the lower abdomen can lead to constipation. Try a nice belly massage with warm Mahanarayan or sesame oil. Incorporate some demulcent herbs like Triphala, ground flaxseed, or licorice to soften the stool.
Another place that you can feel vata increase is in the ears. If it is cold and windy keep them covered, along with a wrap around your neck. Oil the ears in the evening with sesame oil. Rub some on the back of the neck, then lay on a hot water bottle to keep the area warm. Relax.
As the ultimate gift of Vata, you may find extra creativity and inspiration during this season. If you harness this energy and focus your attention, a beautiful expression of you will unfold.
Enjoy this beautiful new season my sweet friends.