Journal · October 3, 2022
Mind, Body and Soul: How to Nourish Yourself This Fall With Ayurveda
By Mel, 500-hour RYT · Well With Melo
In Ayurveda, fall and early winter are Vata season. Vata is made of space and air, and its job is to move. Its qualities are cold, dry, mobile and subtle. In the body, it lives in the large intestine, joints, ears, skin and hips.
As the days get shorter and the sun sets earlier, many of us feel it in both body and mind.
Signs of Vata imbalance
In the mind: restlessness, anxiety, worry, brain fog or confusion.
In the body: constipation, bloating, gas, dryness, cracking joints and aches.
For some, it's mild. For others, it can feel disruptive. Luckily, Ayurveda has a simple formula: opposites balance.
1. Eat warm, soft and nourishing
Swap smoothies and iced coffee for warm, cooked foods. Root vegetables, soups, stews and hot cereal with ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon all help. Vata loves naturally sweet, salty and sour tastes, like stewed apples and creamy puréed soups. A warm cup of tea from Genuine Tea (code WELLWITHMELO)* is one of my favourite fall rituals.
2. Soften your movement
Choose slower, more mindful movement over intense workouts. Take longer breaths in each pose, and move gently. Grounding poses include low lunge, supine twists and forward folds. Calming breathwork like alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) or box breathing (Sama Vritti) can settle Vata in just a few minutes.
Try my gentle classes for a stiff body.
3. Touch
Touch brings us back to the present. Self-massage with warm oil calms the nervous system and nourishes dry skin. Warming oils like sesame or almond are ideal for Vata. I love the classical oils from Rasa Ayurveda (code WELLWITHMELO10)*.
Quick guide
- Dryness: add moisture and oil, in food and on the body
- Anxiety or restlessness: add grounding practices and breath
- Digestion: add gentle movement and warming spices
- Coldness: add warmth and touch
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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.