Journal · September 28, 2022
Doshas of the Season: How to Align With Nature in Ayurveda
By Mel, 500-hour RYT · Well With Melo
Once you know what the doshas are, you start seeing them everywhere, especially in the seasons and the time of day.
The doshas of the seasons
- Vata: late fall and early winter (cold, light, moving, dry)
- Kapha: late winter and spring (cold, heavy, damp, slow)
- Pitta: summer and early fall (hot, bright, sharp, oily)
Each season brings changes you can see in nature: leaves, temperature, rain, daylight and the food that grows locally.
Like attracts like, opposites balance
Vata season is windy and dry, and if you already have a lot of Vata, you may notice drier skin and more irregular digestion. To balance, you add warmth, heavier nourishing food and oil on the skin. A Pitta might need extra cooling in summer, and a Kapha might need more uplifting movement in spring.
Even if it's not your main dosha, the season still affects you, because we have all three doshas within us.
The dosha clock
The doshas also rise and fall through the day:
- Vata: 2 to 6 (morning and afternoon)
- Pitta: 10 to 2 (midday and late night)
- Kapha: 6 to 10 (morning and evening)
Waking before Kapha time fully sets in (ideally before 6 or 7 AM) helps you avoid that heavy, groggy feeling. Eating your biggest meal around midday supports digestion, when Pitta's fire is strongest.
Try this
Notice how your mind and body shift from season to season. Read more: why you feel scattered in fall.
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*Some links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep my classes free. This post is for general wellness education and isn't medical advice.