Ayurveda in the Autumn
According to Ayurveda, each season has its own qualities and categories. Different elements dominate the nature in the summer, and conversely – different ones are more prominent in the autumn or winter. In order to understand this concept, we should get back to the fundamental premise of Ayurveda – the five elements and three doshas.
In Ayurveda, it is believed that the universe is built out of five elements: the earth, water, fire, air and ether. And – in the same way as the universe – we (our bodies and minds) are built of those elements as well. These five elements form three bio-energies – the doshas. The light elements, the air and ether, form the vata dosha; the fire with a bit of water form the pitta dosha, and the heavy elements of earth and water form the kapha dosha. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three doshas. Our bodies and minds (where those energies manifest themselves in subtle ways) are, therefore, built out of the same materials as the universe! According to Ayurveda, human beings reflect the cosmos. We are a microcosm, a manifestation of the powers that operate on a macro-scale. In this perspective, it is obvious that every change in the universe, in the nature and its cycles will have a direct influence on us, because we are an integral part of the universe.
The yearly seasonal changes are very important in Ayurveda. Each season has its own dominant categories. For example, the early summer (in Ayurveda, it starts on May 15th and ends on July 15th) is a season of dominant dryness and spicy taste. The late summer (July 15th to September 15th) is the time of dominant moistness and sour taste (just think of what August smells like and all those fermenting fruit :)). Autumn (in Ayurveda, it starts on September 15th and lasts till November 15th) is the season when the nature is dominated by salty taste and conserving warmth (after the summer). It is no coincidence that I am going back to summer in order to talk about the autumn. According to Ayurveda, nothing works on its own, unrelated to the whole – everything is a result of something else, so the characteristics of autumn are influenced by the seasons that come earlier and the course of nature before it arrives.
A lot of us are, of course, familiar with the variability of mood and energy levels that comes with the seasonal changes. It is completely normal. During each season, particular elements dominate in the nature, a certain dosha is more prominent. When the seasons change, other energies start to dominate in the nature, which has a direct influence on us, our well-being and health. Our bodies and minds are also susceptible to change in those times.
In the summer, the warm elements – spicy and later sour – are more prominent. They heighten the intensity of fire and pitta in the autumn (because those elements are stored in the nature and in ourselves). People with the dominant pitta constitutive type, who naturally have a lot of fire and warmth inside, should pay particular attention to their balance in the early autumn. They should cleanse their body and mind with individually chosen diet, herbs, yoga and pranayama practice.
The autumn is a time when the nature stores a lot of warmth and moisture and the dominant taste is salty. We are also at the threshold of getting into the cold months and we should start preparing for that. We should take care of our immune systems, eat local, seasonal foods, limit our consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and meditate.
Here are some tips for all of us, going into this time:
Food:
Eat local foods, use seasonal fruit and vegetables that have a balancing effect on you;
Eat meals regularly – this is very important for digestion, absorption and the immune system;
Eat slowly, consciously and mindfully;
Slowly limit the consumption of raw foods (they are recommended more often in the summer) and turn towards cooked meals;
Lifestyle:
Make sure your life follows regular patterns – this is a basic rule that supports our bodies and minds during changes, transitions and solstices: we need regular meals, regular sleep (going to sleep at 10 PM and getting up at about 6 AM), regular practice of pranayama, yoga and meditation (the morning practice is particularly important; in Ayurveda, it is better for this practice to be short and regular, rather than long but only happening from time to time);
Each day after brushing your teeth, clean your tongue of the residue (you can buy a special tongue scraper made of stainless steel), insert 2 drops of sesame oil into your nose (it is beneficial for the mucous membrane) and the ears. Perform oil pulling (you can use coconut or sesame oil) for five to ten minutes. Swish a tablespoon of oil in the mouth, moving between the teeth, in order to cleanse the oral cavity of toxins and benefit from the antibacterial and antiviral properties of the oil (remember to use cold-pressed oil);
Two to three times a week, perform a self-massage with warm oil or get a massage appointment with a therapist (then you can be sure the massage will be done with warm, high-quality oil);
You can also take care of your nervous system using cleansing and fortifying herbs (it is best to inquire an Ayurvedic consultant about that) or drink herbal teas that are beneficial for the immune and nervous system, such as tulsi and brahmi;
Introduce ghee butter and turmeric into your diet. It has a positive impact on the nervous system, but also digestion and the bacterial flora.
For people with dominant vata constitution, Ayurveda recommends in particular to:
Take care of their nervous system;
Eat warm, easy-to-digest food;
Introduce slightly warming herbs (such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves) in larger amounts than in the summer;
Eat larger amounts of high-quality oils (e.g. sesame oil, ghee butter, evening primrose oil), groats and boiled vegetables;
Eat regular meals;
Drink small sips of warm water throughout the day;
Get enough sleep;
Perform regular breathing exercises;
Do gentle physical exercise (about 50% of what they are capable of, not more).
For people with dominant pitta constitution type:
It is important in this time to take care of your liver – avoid fatty and spicy food, caffeine and alcohol, include a lot of green vegetables into your diet, drink aloe juice, use the following spices: coriander, rosemary, turmeric;
Drink water regularly;
It is very important to sleep between 10 PM and 2 AM;
Work with the emotions such as anger, irritation, the feeling of pressure – it is important for your health and quality of life (you can work on it using breathing practice, meditation, herbs);
Eat alkaline foods: a lot of fruit and vegetables, and avoid meat, sugar, white flour.
For people with dominant kapha constitution type:
Lower the consumption of diary, wheat and sugar;
During your meals, eat as much as fits into both of your hands put together (do not overeat);
Move around;
Take care of your metabolism: do not nap during the day, eat three meals (as large as described above) regularly during the day, be physically active;
Practice dynamic pranayamas (kapalabhati, bhastrika).
When we take care of our health and internal balance, it is very important to observe our mind and emotions. It is essential to practice pranayamas, meditation and yoga, and to work toward feelings of self-worth and safety (especially for those with vata constitution), work against anger and pressure (pitta) or procrastination and idleness (kapha). During solstices in nature – or breaking points in our private lives – those emotions can intensify if we have a proclivity for them. Take care of yourself in this time, ask for support if you think it will help you. Be open towards change, accept impermanence, let days flow by, be mindful.
Justyna Szydło – ayurvedic consultant and therapist. Her fascination with Ayurveda and yoga started when she was studying Indology. It intensified in 2010 r. in India, when she started learning at the source about this oldest natural medicine system in the world. She obtained the diploma in Ayurvedic massages, nutrition and diagnostic system in the Shivani Ayurveda clinic in Dharamshala in the Himalaya region. Ayurveda became her way of understanding the world and people better and gave her a more profound self-knowledge.
When she came back to Poland, she obtained a massage and acupressure diploma at the Educational Centre “Zdrowie i Uroda” in Cracow. She worked with the Ayurveda centre Body Time in Cracow, and later on – among others – Marx Ayurveda and The Ayurvedic Clinic in London.
When working with women, she mostly draws inspiration from learning for many years from Dr Shivani Sood of Shivani Ayurveda. She is also inspired by Dr Deepika Rodrigo from The Ayurvedic Clinic in London, the Ayurvedic gynaecologist Dr Bhavna Dwivedi and Dr Radha Jindal.
She is passionate about inspiring and supporting women via Ayurveda, yoga and massage. She feels fulfilled when she works with amazing, dynamic feminine energy and has an opportunity to inspire women on each stage of their lives, including pregnancy and maternity. She has a daughter, Dobrawa, who is four years old.
http://www.matrika.pl/
photos: Justyna Długoborska-Ciołko