Harmony with Vata Season 🍂🍁🍃

For those of you who know me well, the image below, with spices being the best pharmacy, is how our home is, and how I typically “treat” my kids. I have been fortunate to learn from the best, my beautiful Imma, may her memory be always of blessing. She knew exactly what to cook and prepare, for whatever ache/weakness we had – may it be physical, or just things of the heart…..miss her every single day but grateful that now I’m finally able to harness my grief into living her legacy.

My mother, without knowing, was motivated by ancient philosophy, based in Ayurvedic principles, one of the oldest and most holistic approach, which utilizes food and spices (plant based) as medicine. Ayurveda, literally means, the knowledge of life. The knowledge of knowing you personal constitution; physical, emotional and spiritual and with that, create a harmonized way to consume food which then serves, protects and nourishes your life on this earth.

And while we all have a different innate DOSHA we are born with; our physiological, mental, and emotional combinations composed of the 5 elements of the world: aakash – space, jala – water, prithvi – earth, teja – fire and vayu – air, we all contain something of each element. However, as typical living beings, we all have one which is more dominant, making us into Vata, Kappa or Pitta.

Vata, made up of earth and air, embraces flow and movement and creativity. Some physical characteristics include thin body with dry skin, frizzy thin hair and a dislike to cold. Emotionally, a Vata person can learn quickly, can multitask but due to scattered, racing thoughts, may have a problem in staying on task and in retaining information.

What I love about Ayurvedic philosophy, is that no matter which of the different personalities we each fit into, we can all learn how to harmonize ourselves during Vata (now), Kappa or Pitta season and expand in ways we all need to, in order to stay balanced and healthy, inside and out.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO EMBRACE VATA SEASON??????

Vata Season begins in late fall till early winter. In this transition, we experience cold days, the air is dry, windy, and at times, even rough. Moreover, with shorter days and less sunlight, mood can change and we may feel low energy or erratic at times. We can experience dry skin, constipation and insomnia.

Here are some simple ways to balance and embrace Vata season and all the benefits of the Vata Energy:

For fluidity, try to swim, for more flexibility and happier joints during cold and dry season, try stretching in general but hot yoga will do you well. For rest and recovery in this erratic season, change up your workout routine, your typical way of being, making room for mental flexibility and avoiding boredom. Finally, to ground which is so important in this season, move your exercise routine, at least twice a week, outdoors – earth your feet, feel and smell nature in!

When it comes to food, consume warm fresh cooked soups and stews. Even if you’re into salad (believe me….my favorite), don’t eat it as much. Drink lots of warm fluids like lemon water, hot herbal teas, etc. Eat more foods that are sweet (not candy😜) sour and salty like sweet potato, avocado, bananas, pumpkin, peaches, beets and carrots, to name a few…..whatever is in season anyways, right????

There is no right or wrong and not one way to be and live, but with trusting what nature offers and by embracing each season, we can grow our minds and spirits to a place of constant balance, positivity and energetic outlook about life!!!

Don’t hate anything, learn instead to live with it, happily ever after.