Summer is gone. Granted, Los Angeles is still seeing heat spells, but in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures are actually dropping. Even in southern climes, however, the sun rises a bit later and sets a bit earlier every day. Depending on where you are as you read this, the movement from summer to autumn may be more or less subtle, but the changes advance faster with each passing day.
In Ayurvedic medicine, autumn is considered a season ruled by vata dosha. What’s that? Wikipedia defines Ayurveda as ‘an alternative medicine system with roots in the Indian subcontinent.’ Within this system, energy is divided into three categories, or doshas. The calendar year corresponds to changes in energy, and the autumn is a time for vata, which is ruled by air, movement, and change. The weather becomes rougher, as the languor of heat transforms into the erratic movement of temperature and wind. While residents of Honolulu experience less seasonal change than those living in Boston, all of us are influenced by the change in energy, and everyone benefits from activities and procedures that ‘pacify vata’ during this time. Ayurveda is all about bringing the world into balance, so these activities are designed to calm the dryness, changeability, and general movement of the season.
Many of us adjust to greater amounts of atmospheric vata as a matter of course, without considering Ayurvedic concepts. If we eat local produce, then we embrace the changing fruits and vegetables by season. When the temperature drops, we begin to crave warming soups and stews instead of salads, turn the oven on again, and in general find that shorter days require different living experiences. In terms of diet, vata foods are generally oilier and more filling than those appropriate for the hot, or pitta, season. Beyond this, one can choose specific foods that are considered better for bringing vata into balance. There are many books and Internet sites containing lists for those wanting to fully embrace an Ayurvedic diet.
This is a time of rapid change, which is difficult on the human body. Back to school season, the Jewish High Holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the symphony and theatre seasons…. life gets busier as the days get crammed with choices. How do we consciously decide what we want to include in our autumn? Before I retired, the change from summer vacation to the teaching year, combined with subsequent lack of sleep and changing weather, usually resulted in bronchitis. A regular schedule is always helpful, but particularly so on days dominated by vata; making sure that I got to bed earlier and kept up my exercise routine during this busy season allowed for a definite improvement in my health. Now that I’m retired, my health is better, but I still try to keep from over-scheduling myself.
This is the season of shorter days. Some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder during this time, but everyone seems to get a bit grouchier from the lack of natural light. I find it important to get outside on a regular basis; walking is a wonderful way to appreciate the change in seasons. While the leaves aren’t going to change until next month (the idea of Thanksgiving leaf peeping always amuses my friends in more northern climes), I do see a change in animal sightings as birds fly south for the winter. As we’re on the Pacific Flyway, this is a great time to do some birding!
It’s also important to establish some cozy routines. With the (possible) advent of the rainy season (although we’re due for another drought year… sigh), as well as the (eventual) dropping of temperatures, we find ourselves spending more time indoors. How can we make this more agreeable? Warm water or steam baths? Cozy comforters? Nice loungewear? I like all of the above, as well as a certain amount of pampering. The Scandinavian idea of hygge is all about warmth and coziness, and I find that incorporating more of each in my life makes the change of seasons much more enjoyable.
Vata season also is a good time to change up one’s yoga practice. During the summer, I found myself trying to keep things low and slow, so as to minimize heating. In contrast, now I find myself needing more grounding as I pull inward. I’m up for more movement, but I need that to be structured in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I’m all over the place. While vinyasa practice is again enjoyable, it needs to be less full-throttle. This is an excellent time to take longer, more settled holds in each pose. The classes I take, as well as the classes I teach, mirror what is going on in the natural world in accordance with this Ayurvedic principle, focusing on forward folds and twists that help us to settle down and pull inward.
In-depth knowledge of Ayurveda is absolutely not required for yoga practitioners. However, I always want to acknowledge the South Asian roots of yoga, and respecting the influence of yoga’s “sister science” helps me to do that. In addition, the Ayurvedic focus on celebrating the seasons and living closer to natural rhythms complements the yogic idea of union. Changing things up seasonally works well for me. Is your experience similar?
Yoga Cielo Stellato 