What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a holistic healing system that guides us to stay in harmony with the universal energies within and around us. One of its core principles is recognizing the cycles of the seasons and their impact on our health and well-being. By aligning with these seasonal shifts, we can maintain balance, prevent illness, and stay grounded, no matter the external circumstances. This ancient wisdom encourages us to live in tune with nature for optimal health and inner peace.
Why Ayurveda?
In Ayurveda, the practice of staying in harmony with the changing seasons is known as ritucharya, or seasonal routine. While Ayurveda originated in India and its wisdom is based on the cycles of the Indian seasons, we can apply these principles wherever we live by understanding the energy and weather patterns of our own environment. Ayurveda recognizes six distinct seasons, and by aligning our habits with these natural rhythms, we can maintain balance and support our well-being year-round.
The 6 Seasons:
Winter (shishira)
Spring (vasanta)
Summer (grishma)
Monsoon (varsha)
Autumn (sharata)
Late Autumn (dakshinayana)
Fall is a time of transition in Ayurveda, marked by the shift from hot summer to cool winter. It is divided into early autumn (sharata), from mid-September to mid-November, and late autumn (dakshinayana), which lasts until mid-December or January. During early autumn, your digestive fire (agni) strengthens, and it's important to soothe summer's pitta while balancing the cooling vata dosha. In late autumn, vata provocation increases as the weather becomes cooler and drier, and kapha begins to accumulate. The key to staying balanced in fall is grounding vata with a steady routine, nourishing foods, and calming practices, as this dosha can affect overall balance throughout the seasons.
Here are some ideal foods for this season:
Sweet, Bitter, and Astringent Tastes: Focus on foods with these tastes to calm pitta.
Sweet: Cooked grains (like rice, oats, quinoa), sweet fruits (apples, pears, figs), and root vegetables (carrots, beets, sweet potatoes).
Bitter: Leafy greens (kale, spinach, Swiss chard).
Astringent: Beans, lentils, pomegranates.
Warming, Moist Foods: Start incorporating gently warming foods as vata increases.
Soups and Stews: Made with root vegetables, grains, and legumes.
Ghee or Oils: Use ghee, olive oil, or sesame oil to nourish and lubricate the body.
Warming Spices: Include ginger, cumin, coriander, and fennel to support digestion and balance vata.
Hydrating and Cooling Beverages: To pacify lingering pitta, drink cooling herbal teas like mint or fennel, and stay hydrated with warm water throughout the day.
By focusing on these foods, you can help balance pitta and prepare your body for the approaching cooler, drier months. Enjoy friend.
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