Our Ayurvedic Autumn Cleanse can help us develop a daily routine to support our health and well being as we move through Autumn.
Although autumn is considered to be more prominently Vata season, we all benefit from observing the changes in season and aligning ourselves with rhythm of nature and the environment around us.
The qualities of the season can either pacify or aggravate our inner environment depending on our Ayurvedic type. Autumn tends to be windy, changeable, dry, rough and cool. These characteristics are most prominently shared with Vata dosha
For all of us, it is a time to focus on stability, grounding, warming and nurturing. As we may experience difficulty sleeping, developing a daily routine of waking and going to bed at the same time is important. Vata really does benefit from routine when it comes to sleeping and eating. Your regular exercise routine should include strength training, but also a slower paced Yoga practice such as Yin Yoga is also very grounding if you’re feeling a little restless. An evening Yin practice is perfect to calm the body and mind before bed. A nourishing diet help balance the characteristics of air, space and movement, which are prominent in Autumn.
Your Autumn Daily Routine
Morning Routine
- Try to wake at the same time and start the day enjoying the silence and stillness of the morning.
- Brush teeth and scrape tongue.
- Sip on hot water or mild fresh ginger tea to stimulate the digestive fire.
- A gentle Yoga practice of slow joint mobility, gently warming the body would be beneficial or a few gentle rounds of slow Surya Namaskar would also be suitable.
- Incorporate some calming Pranayama such as alternate nostril breathing – Nadi Shodana into your morning practice, which is particularly balancing for Vata.
- The Vata digestion may feel a little out of balance during Autumn. This Yoga practice is the perfect morning practice to stimulate the digestive system.
- After your morning shower massage your body with a warming, heavy oil, such as sesame oil into he skin. You could add a few drops of a sweet, warming essential oil such as cinnamon, ginger or clove oil. Be sparing with essential oils.
- The Vata diet during autumn and winter should be warming, moist, nourishing and grounding without being heavy. Soups, stews and warm grain ‘porridge’ are ideal choices.
- Coconut, spiced rice porridge. Mung Dhal porridge the other suitable gain porridge is a grounding and nourishing start to the day.
Are are some Autumn Breakfast ideas for the dosha
You can also find Autumn recipes HERE
Daily Routine
- Cooking with warming spices such as cloves, ginger, cardamon, nutmeg and cinnamon will be beneficial to maintain balance and wellbeing throughout the colder months. Avoid cold and raw foods. Sip on warm water/herbal teas throughout the day.
- Vata suits a regular routine throughout the day. When Vata become imbalanced there is a tendency to skip meals, so try to have regular meal time with warm, moist, nourishing foods.
- Sweet, sour and salty tastes are particularly balancing and warming for Vata dosha. You can read more about Vata balancing foods HERE.
Evening Routine
- Try to leave around 2 hours from ending your evening meal and going to bed.
- The Vata mind can easily become over stimulated in the evening, making it difficult to switch off from the thoughts of the day and many Vata dominate people suffer from insomnia.
- Switch off screens and phones at least an hour before bed.
- Warm, sweet, spiced milk milk: warm milk with cinnamon, cardamon, ginger can be very soothing before bed.
- If the digestion is particularly sluggish, take 2 Triphala tablets before bed.
- You could also try this short mediation in the evening to calm a busy mind. Meditation with Karren.
Ayurvedic Autumn Cleanse
The change in season is the perfect time to introduce a short cleansing routine. A cleanse can vary in length from 3 days, to as long as a month. For a long cleanse, it’s advisable to follow the practice with an Ayurvedic Practitioner. A shorter 3-5 day cleanse may be more manageable. Click here for the Lotus 3-5 day seasonal cleanse. This can be followed at any time throughout the year, but especially at the change in season or if we feel our digestion is a little out of sync.