Ritucharya, an Ayurvedic practice, is a seasonal regimen that adapts to the changing environment and seasons. As we come out of summer(!) and into autumn, we can explain the changes using the doshas. Summer can be said to be predominantly pitta dosha (think heat), and autumn to be predominantly vata dosha (think cold, dry, light, windy).
With the change in seasons and the environment we live in, we can see vata in action - leaves turn to a golden brown and shed themselves from the trees, the temperature beings to drop and the wind becomes well, more windy.
As human beings, we are intrinsically part of our environment and the body is constantly influenced by it. We can either choose to resist these external changes and put stress on our bodies and create dis-ease or we can adapt ourselves to maintain balance.
This is a time when then digestive capacity, doshas, and gut health might fluctuate with the weather. Here are five simple tips to maintain balance during this change:
1. Eat a Light, Nourishing Diet
Favour foods such as vegetable soups, chicken broth, whole grains and plenty of cooked vegetables. Make sure to add light spices to support the digestion and keep the kindling on the digestive fire. Enjoy flatbreads, tortillas, chapatis which are much lighter and easier to digest than regular bread. You can also opt for sourdough bread. Avoid cold water and instead sip on warm water when feeling thirsty.
Avoid rich, heavy and processed foods that might be too taxing on the digestive system. Also avoid cold and raw foods at this time as this can further aggravate vata.
2. Rest
You might find that you naturally need a bit more rest between the seasons. As the environment changes around us, so too does the body. And the body is using energy to adapt to this . Resting requires energy. So start to slow down a little.
Engage in gentle rather than strenuous exercises such as yoga or walking. Making time for short meditations each day can help to cleanse the mind.
3. Massage
Massage is highly praised in ayurveda, so give yourself a daily 10 minute massage each morning with warm oils. The warmth of the oil may counteract the cold and wind happening outside and also helps to loosen any toxins from the tissues which can then be eliminated naturally. You can always treat yourself to a relaxing marma massage at the clinic.
4. Wrap up
As the temperature begins to drop, it’s essential to wrap up warm when going outside to avoid excess loss of heat from the body and so to keep warm. The winds can also cause dryness of the skin so by doing so we can certainly mitigate this happening. Get those hats, gloves and scarves out!
5. Avoid bright lights
As the sun begins to set earlier and the nights draw in earlier, naturally we’ll want to turn the lights on inside the house. Make use of dimmed lights so as to not stimulate the senses too much and disturb the body’s natural circadian rhythm. In turn, this can avoid any potential for sleep disturbances. If you are having some trouble sleeping, try a glass of warm milk lightly spiced with green cardamom to help you drift off.
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