A Vata Season Primer
Throughout the year, each of the three doshas is more present in our environment according to the season. We know our seasons as fall, winter, spring, and summer but Ayurveda divides the year into three seasons: vata season (late fall to early winter), kapha season (the heart of winter to spring), and pitta season (late spring to early fall).
For these seasonal transitions, Ayurveda provides ritucharya, a guideline for adjusting our food and daily habits to align with the current season. By adapting your routines to the season you help prevent imbalances and illness.
Fall is a time of transition. During fall we see signs of vata dosha all around: dryer air, cooler air, falling leaves, wind picking up to bring in cooler temperatures. Autumn can leave us feeling exposed and a little raw, but it is also filled with possibility—a time when we can slow down, embrace the quiet side of life, and turn inward.
Autumn is dry, rough, windy, erratic, cool, subtle, and clear. These are all qualities shared by vata dosha. One of the guiding principles of Ayurveda is that like increases like. This same principle illustrates why taking a few simple steps to balance vata this fall can be beneficial.
If like increases like, then opposites bring balance. We intuitively make changes to our diets during seasonal transitions. Most people naturally move away from watermelon, salads, and iced drinks in favor of warming things like: eating cooked foods, soups and stews, and drinking more herbal teas to support the immune system and warm the body.
Our day-to-day lives are highly vata throughout our activity—thinking, talking, and moving are all vata activities. To avoid imbalance, we need rest and relaxation. During this season, we naturally spend more time at home but don’t overlook getting in some exercise and spending some time outdoors.
Diet is a great way to soothe vata this fall. Eat more nourishing foods that are brought to life with warming spices. A breakfast of cooked grains—like oatmeal, congee, or cream of wheat—are perfect at this time of year. Lunches and dinners should include hearty grains, soups, and stews that are grounding and moisturizing with a healthy serving of vegetables. Reduce your consumption of raw vegetables and cold or frozen foods.
Because of the dryness that comes with autumn, oil up! Put ghee in your food. Put oil on your skin. If you don’t have time for a full abhyanga practice, at least oil your feet at night before bed. Re-establish routines, create a feeling of being grounded, and make sure to get plenty of sleep.