Taking Care of Ourselves in Autumn: Autumn Ritucharya

Ayurveda advises that we all follow a seasonal routine (Ritucharya). This routine is known throughout nature: in autumn, trees lose their leaves, and many animal species fold in on themselves.

Mid-autumn and winter is the season when the Vata dosha (cold and dry) tends to increase.

To maintain balance—especially in people in whom Vata predominates—Ayurveda recommends:

-Order. The key to balancing Vata is order and regularity. Vata is an irregular dosha, easy prey to excessive stimulation. Vata’s worsening turns enthusiasm into exhaustion.

– Plenty of rest. Rest is very important for any Vata imbalance.

-Heat. Because it is a cold dosha, it is good for heat. Vata is also dry, so it is advisable to make sure that the air in the rooms has enough humidity.

– Hot food and beverages. Avoid dry or uncooked foods (a soup or stew is better than a salad).

– Predominance of sweet, sour and salty flavors. These flavors help stabilize and nourish Vata.

– Massage and self-massage. Getting massages, or self-massaging the body with warm oils, is one of the best ways to balance Vata. The massage calms the nervous system, nourishes the tissues and restores a feeling of inner stability.

A simple and profoundly effective gesture is to massage your feet every night: it relieves excess Vata, improves sleep and helps to release tension accumulated during the day. You can do it with the Kansa Vakti Bowl, a traditional bowl that balances energy through metal, and with Vata Oil or Nirama Oil, a detoxifying, regenerating and gently warming oil, ideal for this season.

– Daily moist heat. Taking a hot bath or a long, hot shower in the morning is very beneficial. Moist heat relaxes and stabilizes Vata’s nervous system.

– After bathing, apply Vata Body Cream to the skin all over the body: its formulation with hot and moisturizing plants protects the skin and the pranic field against cold and dryness.

– Vata Ashwagandha Tea Infusion. Take a warm infusion of Vata Ashwagandha Tea daily, which helps calm the mind, strengthen the nervous system and maintain energy balance during the cold months.

In general, the season in which we should be most alert is the one that corresponds to our predominant dosha: summer for  the Pitta, autumn-winter for  the Vata, and spring for  the Kapha.

Whatever your predominant dosha is, enjoy the immense beauty of these coming months, when nature invites us, all of us, to collect, nourish and rest.