The Wisdom of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, the indigenous medical system of India, is a way of understanding the natural world and the powerful relationship that we as human beings have to it. In Ayurveda, health is perceived through an all-encompassing lens - one in which our mind, our body and our soul all relate to the natural world around us and hold equal merit when it comes to state of our health and wellbeing.
The name Ayurveda can be translated to "the art of living", which seems quite fitting as Ayurvedic living can be described as a harmonious, art-like relationship between mind, body and soul that ultimately forms a united whole. In this system of healing and wellbeing nourishment is believed to come in many different forms, it's not only the food that we eat to the people but also the people we surround ourselves with, the movement that we practice and the rituals that we commit ourselves to.
In the same way that we are complex beings, a multitude of different parts and experiences that come to together to form a whole, so is the world around us. The seasons experienced within nature are akin to the ones we expereince within ourselves. Life, and our world, can be characterized by a series of ebbs and flows that continue to alter and shape us as we live them and experience them. By taking guidance and wisdom from the natural world around us, we can better learn how to honour these different seasons and cycles that exist both within and around us. In living and learning with nature, we in turn have the opportunity to live a much more meaningful and present life.
In our modern day world, maintaining a present and deep connection with nature continues to become an increasingly difficult task. With the wisdom of Ayurveda, we can learn to establish simple rituals in our daily lives that in the midst of modern day chaos can help to anchor us back to nature and in turn, to ourselves.
The rhythms and cycles of nature impact the ones within us as well - so living with the seasons is a simple, yet immensely beneficial way in which we can optimize our wellbeing. Establishing a new series of rituals for each new season can help us live in much healthier and more regenerative ways. With fall right around the corner - we've compiled a series of easy to implement rituals and practices that can help to support your wellbeing as the light begins to fade and leaves begin to turn.
According to Ayurveda we, like nature, are a carefully balanced combination of the five essential elements: fire, wind, earth, water and space. It is these elements, and the way that they are aligned within us, that composes what is known in Ayurveda as our dosha. There are three doshas - Pitta, Kapha and Vata. Although all three exist within each and every one of us at all times, we each have a dosha that is predominant in comparison to the others. Pitta is the dosha of fire, Kapha of earth and water and Vata of air and space. Our primary dosha will always remain the same, but all that we experience and are exposed to can have an affect on how that dosha, and the others that exist within us in smaller capacities, are balanced. The shifting of seasons is believed to have a notable impact on the balance of our doshas, making the adoption of new rituals and rhythms for each season of the utmost importance to our wellbeing.
In some ways fall is a time of new beginnings - a return to routine after a summer filled with spontaneity, adventure and thrill. In other ways, it can be a time characterized by burn out and deep fatigue following months of heat and intensity. Following an active and outward summer, fall is a time where caring for our nervous system and slowing down is necessary. Think of fall as the slowly travelled path towards a restful, inward winter.
Fall is the season wind, meaning it's the season of Vata which is full of air and space. When aggravated, or unbalanced, Vata can manifest itself as insomnia, irregular bowel movements, anxiety, dry and rough skin, chapped lips, overly frequent urination and more. In Fall it is important that we keep this over abundance of air and space (Vata) balanced with the grounding elements of Earth and water, meaning that we need more Kapha. The Kapha dosha is characterized by tendencies of moving slowly, being of exceptional endurance and strength as well as a deep value for protecting inner peace - all the qualities we want to prioritize in this season.
Ayurvedic Rituals for Fall
Rituals of Food:
In the fall, we want to emphasize foods that are dense, oily, soupy and warm. Think nourishing comfort foods that have warming herbs and spices such as Cardamom or Cinnamon and are cooked in healthy oils and fats such as sesame oil or ghee.
Grains, root vegetables, legumes and well cooked greens are staples within a fall Ayurvedic diet for healthy digestion and optimal immunity.
Warm teas made of Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger and Cloves make a great fall beverage.
Avoiding foods that are astringent or bitter in taste is recommended during the fall season. Ensure to eat meals at similar times everyday, and enjoy them in a peaceful environment rather than on the go.
Rituals of Movement:
Fall is a time that invites of us to slow down, prioritizing slower movements that help to stabilize us.
Rather than high intensity workouts and fast-paced routines, it is suggested to practice slower, more grounding movement such as vata-grounding yoga.
Don't forget to move slowly throughout your day - Fall is the season to do less and rest more.
Rituals of Spirit:
Fall is the season that we settle back into ourselves following months of being outward, practices of journalling, meditation and self care immensely help us to do this.
Focusing in on calm, grounding breathwork that soothes the nervous system is vital during the fall for keeping a peaceful internal environment.
Try to keep a tranquil, quiet and warm space for yourself - limit exposure to loud sounds such as music and over-stimulating environments. This is your time to simply be with yourself, this is your time to slow everything down and prioritize your inner peace.
Herbal Allies for Balancing Vata During Fall:
Ashwagandha can be an excellent herb to incorporate into your days during the fall as it can balance Vata by soothing the nervous system and lessening stress and anxiety within the mind and the body.
Ginger is great for helping to bring warmth into the body which is important for keeping Vata balanced. Ginger can be found in our Love Your Gut and Immune Support Herbal Tea blends!
Our Pink Skies Herbal Tea blend is a delicious Vata balancing blend made from Chamomile, Cinnamon and Rosehips - it's both warming and soothing making it the ideal Fall beverage to enjoy.
At the end of the day - the most important thing moving into this new season is giving yourself the time and space to slow down. You deserve to prioritize your rest and your peace, and Fall invites you to do so.
Written by Remy Brayshaw of Daydream Organics
Inspired and Informed by the ideas of Living Ayurveda by Claire Ragozzino.