13 Apr Keeping Balanced in Autumn with Ayurveda

Keeping Balanced in Autumn with Ayurveda

with Naturopath Tori Bowes

Autumn is vata season – a time of transition, where there is a crispness to the light and the qualities are dry, rough, windy, erratic, cool, subtle, and clear.  This can manifest as anxiety and agitation. From the long days and intensity of summer we have accumulated heat and fatigue and this time of year can leave us feeling more anxious and burnt out. To maintain balance, we must create stability through good healthy routines and grounding ourselves with nourishing foods and breathwork practices.

If you are showing signs of constipation, cracking joints, red eyes, dry skin and anxiousness then now is the time to nurture your body and support it with these tips:

Breath: Breathwork is an excellent tool to have to calm frazzled nerves, reduce anxiety, create spaciousness in your life and to feel grounded and calm.

Foods: Warming and grounding foods – think soups, stews, slow cooked foods, oils (ghee, sunflower oil, untoasted sesame oil, mustard oil) warming spices, wholegrains, lentils, root vegetables, cooked greens, stewed fruits and consistent meal times (practice being present whilst eating – no tv, no lap top). Now is the time to favour the sweet, sour and salty tastes. What to Avoid – raw vegetables, cold smoothies and iced drinks, dried fruits and nuts, dry snacks (crisps, crackers), caffeinated beverages, long periods of fasting and skipping meals.

Breakfast Ideas: cooked grains like porridge, Kanji. Lunches and Dinners: steamed or roasted vegetables, whole grains, soups, stews, curries and dals.

Beverages: Prepare a pot/thermos of warming digestive tea (CCF Tea: coriander, cumin, fennel tea) and sip throughout the day between meals. This is excellent to help reduce bloating. Boil 4 cups of water, add 1 tsp of each whole spice and continue to boil for 30 seconds. Let steep for 10 minutes
then strain and pour into thermos.

Balancing and responding to the changes in nature and the climate with lifestyle choices can be one of the simplest ways to stay in good health. By making diet and lifestyle changes you can create deep nourishment, and create a sense of calm, and groundedness through creating a daily routine.

Routine: When the body knows what to expect it feels safe.
– Wake and retire to bed at the same time every day
– Eat your meals undistracted at consistent times (ideally breakfast by 8:00 am, lunch around midday, dinner by 6:00 pm)

Movement: Vata is aggravated by fast, mobile activities, so consider taking a slower, gentler approach to exercise. Choose activities that are calming and soothing. Walking, hiking, swimming, biking, yoga, and tai chi are good choices, provided they are done at an appropriate level of intensity. The best times of day to exercise are in the early morning and evening hours (6–10 a.m. and 6–10 p.m.). Ideally, exercise at about 50–70 percent of your capacity, breathing through your nose the entire time. Remember to balance your activity with adequate relaxation and sleep so that your tissues can rejuvenate properly.

Here’s to a happy, healthy & harmonious autumn season!

Book in a session with Tori here.