Navigating the change of seasons
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It’s that time of year. Before we know it, blooming sunflowers will give way to autumn leaves and a hard freeze will bring an end to the summer garden. Warm blankets will be needed again, and we’ll go from sweating to shivering. The days are getting shorter and vata is in for a shock, with the sudden ending of hot days. To make matters worse, the weather swings from hot to cold and back again.
The time of seasonal change is one where our immune systems are more vulnerable, and we can easily catch a cold, or the latest coronavirus variant. And with the onset of fall, vata aches and pains start to flare up, along with anxiety and restless sleep. The change of seasons is a tricky time, since change provokes vata, and none is more tricky than the change from summer to fall.
During this transitional time, we should slowly phase out our summer regimens and gradually introduce those for autumn. Begin to cut back on salads and introduce warm soups. Gradually move away from summer cooling drinks to fresh ginger tea and warm spiced milks. Start to shift from coconut oil to sesame oil for your massages. On hot days, continue your summer oils, teas and herbs, but start to use your fall ones on cooler days. If your self-care routines fell apart during your summer travels, gradually ease back into a regular routine.
One of the most important routines to reintroduce at this time is your weekly oil massage and ginger-baking soda tub sweat. This will help ground and calm vata and strengthen your immune system during the change of seasons. In fact, if you are vata, see if you can do your oil massage and sweat more than once a week.
This is also an ideal time to visit your Ayurvedic doctor, so you can get set up with appropriate herbs to meet the challenges of fall and winter. And it’s also a great time to start preparing for a panchakarma cleanse, to help ensure good health and immunity all winter long. Your Ayurvedic doctor will help you plan the most suitable panchakarma for your needs.
As we can see, current weather patterns are far exceeding the normal seasonal variability. Next time, we’ll talk about how Ayurveda views extreme weather.
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
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