As the season changes from summer to fall, the days become shorter, the weather becomes cooler, and life as we know it begins to change. I always welcome this time of year as a time to slow down, and savor the harvest that comes after a busy summer.
Fall is also a time to adjust your diet and lifestyle to the changing season. When you align your life to the changing seasons, you create harmony in your body naturally, by using the gifts and tools that nature provides. Eating and living with the seasons is a good way to track your health, and reconnect to nature.
In Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing modality, each season carries with it a different energy. These energies, or doshas, have different characteristics that are quite easy to live by.
The energy of fall is called vatta, the dosha made up of air and space. Vatta is dry, cool, airy, and full of movement. It's energy is light, subtle and erratic.
People who carry a lot of vatta energy are the creative type. They jump from one idea to the next, and likely have multiple interests and passions. They may struggle with decision making, and can be very spacey or dreamy at times. Physically they are slender, small boned, and when imbalanced may experience dryness and constipation. Those with a lot of vatta energy need to focus on staying grounded. When vattas are in balance they are free spirited, innovative, and creatively driven.
Download my FREE Fall Smoothie Guide and receive 3 smoothie recipes inspired by the flavors of fall, plus all my diet and lifestyle tips to make this the best fall ever!
Fall embodies the qualites of vatta. It is a time of transition and movement, as nature prepares for winter In order to embrace vatta season, I have gathered my top diet and lifestyle tips to live by this fall.
Diet:
When you choose to nourish yourself seasonally, you get the most out of your diet. Mother Nature is very intuitive; she gives you what you need to balance your body with the energy of the season. During autumn it's important to prioritize...
Grounding foods: root vegetables like squash, pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and beets help ground us during the cool, windy months of fall. Grounding grains like oats, quinoa, and wild rice are also beneficial
Warming foods: enjoy soups, stews, hot teas, and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, and sage to warm the body and counteract the dryness and coolness of the season
Nourishing foods: Vatta season is the time to add more heavy fats to your diet such as nuts, seeds, nut butters, nut milks, yogurt, butter, ghee, and moderate amounts of animal meat
Lifestyle:
Adjusting your lifestyle to the season is another way to tune your body and mind to the rhythm of nature. Here are my top lifestyle tips for a successful and enjoyable fall...
Develop a routine: As children, we already follow the rhythm of nature just by returning to school in the fall. Think about it: during the summer, your schedule was free, and you spent most of your time unplanned, playing the day away. Once fall arrived, you'd take up your regular routine, awakening same time each morning, going to school and sticking to a schedule.
As an adult, your schedule may not change as drastically as it did when you were a kid. However it's still important to develop a routine during vatta season to help you stay grounded.
Here are a few things to try:
- Go to bed earlier and get up earlier in the morning. In the summer, we're able to stay up later because the sun is out longer, giving us energy late into the evening. As the sun's routine changes, so should yours. Adding structure and discipline around your bed time routine will allow a more productive and level minded start to the following day.
- Take up a self reflective practice such as mediation, journaling or yoga. These practices will help clear your mind and organize your thoughts during the spacey vatta season
- Take some time to plan and prep your meals once or twice a week. Endless to do lists and crazy schedules can sometimes leave you feeling unorganized, frantic, and in desperate for a snack. This is total vatta energy at work. Preparing easy crockpot dinners, or having that healthy snack ready to go can be a real game changer to calm those nerves, and ease the hectic energy around you.
Time to nest in: Vatta truly is the time for nesting. It's a time to shut your doors to summer, and get cozy. To counteract the dry, cold winds outside, prioritize making your home a warm and nurturing retreat. Fill your home with soy candles, essential oils, comfy blankets, and warming colors during this time of year. If you have house projects lingering from over the summer, it's time to bring them in and focus on your inner sanctuary. Create an environment that is relaxing to come home to; take a day to organize and declutter your home to counteract the chaos that can sometimes accompany vatta energy.
Nurture your Creative Side: Sometimes nesting can look a lot like Netflix and chill on repeat, but it's important to include creative practices in your regular routine. These two concepts may seem contrary, but when you get too caught up in the cozy way of life, you can risk becoming overly self indulgent, restless, lazy, or gluttonous. (Cabin fever anyone?! I've experienced it MANY a time come the new year...) Off set this by channeling the Vatta's creative side with fun indoor projects, arts and craft nights, and pot luck dinners with friends.
Ultimately fall is a time of transformation and change. Although it is a beautiful time of year, having tools to cope with the changing natural environment will help bring balance, peace, and health into your life. I truly believe when we learn to live in sync with the seasons, we are able to tune in to what our bodies need, and make better decisions for ourselves and others.
What is your favorite thing about fall? The weather? The food? The cozy sweaters? Let me know in the comments below!
And don't forget to download my FREE Fall Smoothie Guide and receive 3 smoothie recipes inspired by the flavors of fall, plus all my diet and lifestyle tips to make this the best fall ever!