Fall is the season of Vata. This means the energies of Vata are at their most troublesome during this time of year. Excessive movement, cold and dryness are just a few of the challenging aspects to Vata that are present now. One of the best ways to balance Vata is through routine. You can start right now to develop routines that will ground and center you. This enables you to stay connected to your health throughout this busy season.
Your morning routine could include a walk in the sun, breathing mindfully, stretching or yoga, Abhyanga (ah-be-yong'-ah), which is ayurvedic self-massage, meditation and then breakfast of a warm, cooked cereal.
All or some of these practices can bring a warmth and routine to your day to help keep you in balance.
Grounding Sensations...Fall is the right time for walks in nature.
This time of transition lends itself to feeding the senses on many levels. To fully take advantage of this with your sense of touch, you can get outdoors and go for a walk to observe the beauty of the world and to feed your self on the rich changes in the life around you. Notice the changes in the trees and animal life as you feel the cool air on your face. Check in to make sure you are not tiring yourself; a walk should be energizing not exhausting. When you feel tired in the early afternoon, a walk outdoors can pick up your energy level faster than a nap.
Grounding scents ... Ground your body and mind with warm, sweet, woody scents.
Scents may be used in a variety of ways. Some wonderful ways to use essential oils during the fall are to add them to your bath (carefully), or your massage oil, or surround yourself with a scent by using an aromatherapy diffuser. Candles are also a way to add grounding scents with the added benefit of a warm glow. The following scents blend well together and balance their warm and sweet qualities:
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Sandalwood