5 Ways to Fall into Autumn
Autumn is upon us with its shorter days and cooler nights. I find myself cozying up under covers and lighting candles to bring in the warmth I'm missing from summer. I even lit the fireplace for the first time in months this week. Quite intuitively, my body has been coaxing me to quiet down and be still. I'm suddenly craving hot teas, hearty soups, extra ghee (in everything), warm baths and a few extra minutes in bed before I have to rise for the day.
While this all sounds quite hygge, it can also be challenging to our bodies. It's a vata time, in Ayurvedic terms, which means the dry, mobile, rough, light, cold qualities of the season are afoot. Our skin loses its moisture more easily, our energies can feel frenetic, our bodies displace heat more quickly and the creakiness of our joints start to pop up. Just like the brisk breezes shake the leaves off the trees, we too get jostled by this transition.
Having a predominantly vata constitution myself, I have found these five practices to be deeply nourishing and highly effective. They keep me feeling grounded, warm, cozy, and juicy from head to toe. I am able to hold onto my energy reserves with more efficiency, I have more motivation throughout the day, my body feels supple inside and out. Give one, or all of them, a try this week and see if you too feel a bit more graceful as you fall into autumn.
Drink warm water. That’s it. Super simple, yet highly effective. Ditch the iced and chilled drinks until summer rolls around again (you’ll probably appreciate them more then, too). You’ll warm your organs and tissues from the outside, which will help you maintain your body temperature and preserve your precious energy. As well, you’ll be helping your body clear out ama, cellular waste, which will help it function better overall.
Eat more EFAs (essential fatty acids). Think seeds, nuts and oils. Be mindful of heating temperatures when cooking with oils, so as to not burn them. Otherwise, get creative with adding these to your favorite warm dishes. Remember that soups and stews are wonderful and easy to prepare for this time of year.
Chia, hemp, sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds.
Walnuts, almonds, cashews and pecans.
Sesame, avocado, olive, sunflower, safflower, hemp seed oils and ghee.
Bookend your event schedule. The holiday season, while intended to be nourishing, often leaves us feeling drained as we over-schedule and keep moving at the pace we did in the season past. Fall is a time for quieting down and taking it a bit easier as we move into winter. Give yourself more time before and after social engagements to pause. Let the experience integrate before moving to the next. Conserve your vitality. Whether this is a couple of hours or a full day or two, honor your current tolerance level and remember, it’s okay to say ‘I’d love to, but not today’.
Eat meals at routine times. That mobile quality of the season can pull us off from our center. Creating simple routines, like eating at regular intervals, that your body can expect and rely on grounds it back into a place of ease. This settles our nervous system, as it’s a way to show your body that it’s safe and will be properly nourished. This also ensures your body has time between meals, which helps it digest and assimilate food more effectively.
Allow yourself more rest. Mother Nature show us the ways in which we move with the sun. The animals are preparing for a long cold spell, the plants and shedding their flowers and leaves to conserve their reserves and we too are invited to do the same. Just as we turn inward and rest at night, this season is darker, quieter and slower for that same reason. Our circadian rhythms know this, but societal norms have tricked us into thinking otherwise. So, give yourself permission to come home, put on your cozies and cuddle up with something or someone you love.
In light & with love, Renee