Flowing into Fall: Ayurvedic Tips for Staying Balanced During the Autumn Season
Updated: Apr 19
Fall is a key seasonal transition for most people. Its dramatic and colorful shift can leave us feeling anxious, ungrounded, and yeah, even constipated. Learn how to flow into fall and keep Vata balanced.
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Flowing into Fall: Ayurvedic Tips for Staying Balanced During the Autumn Season
Transitions. What's the big deal? When transitions occur, whether it’s a seasonal, job, relocation, relationship, change in health—all of these have the potential to imbalance Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the balance of the doshas, so we feel our best mentally, physically and spiritually.
Since the only constant is change--whether it’s the time of day the doshas dominate, the season, or the doshic stage of life we’re in--life is dynamic. Ayurveda understands the importance of maintaining balance of the doshas, especially during transitions when the doshas are more vulnerable. To do so, we likely need to tweak our dinacharya (daily routines) and ritucharya (seasonal routines).
When the doshas are balanced, we feel good mentally and physically and when we are presented with challenges, we are better able to face them, and sometimes, we surprise ourselves at how we can evenly flow with life.
With seasonal transitions, to regain or maintain balance of the doshas is the name of the game. We want to benefit from the supportive effects of the season, and to mitigate against the not so beneficial changes.
Personally, I experience Autumn as a particularly spiritually rich season, and I want my doshas balanced so I can dive deep into what this season naturally offers. For others, the shorter, darker, cooler days are not welcomed, and feelings of anxiety, disrupted sleep and digestive issues show up.
What is supportive and balancing for each person depends on their constitution (prakruti), their current condition (vikruti), location and stage of life; as such, what brings balance....you got it-you know me--"it depends."
Many imbalances today are due to our disconnection from a lack of following the seasonal influences and knowing how to maintain our health. We need to learn what is correct for us and not a one size fits all approach.
What is Ritucharya or Ayurvedic Seasonal Transitions?
In Sanskrit, the word is Ritucharya means to synchronize the body and mind to the changes naturally occurring. Sometimes we have a funny notion that we are separate from nature, but we're not. What happens in the environment has an influence on us.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dosha Imbalance?
Peruse these comprehensive and convenient lists of signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances.
As we are all comprised of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, there can be an imbalance in any of the doshas, or a combination of dosha imbalances. Read all three lists and see if anything looks familiar.
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We say, "I'm going for a walk in nature," yet we are nature--the fresh air we breathe in, is the air in our lungs, the calcium in the rock, is calcium in our bones and on it goes. The five elements, pancha mahabhuta that comprise the universe, are the same great elements from which we are made.
Depending on one's doshic picture, certain seasonal transitions have more influence. In my experience, for most people, flowing from summer to fall can be challenging. Why? Lots of reasons--the length of the days changes, less sunlight has an impact, and for some people a powerful impact. More time inside? Likely for many. Less active? That can happen too. Overall, happy brain chemicals that are nurtured by sunlight are less present.
For others, especially those with higher Pitta, the arrival of the cooler, drier weather feels like a cellular level sigh of relief and a boost of energy manifests--the fresh, crisp air adds pep to every step. Whether one welcomes fall with open arms, or finds anxiety, insomnia and constipation increasing (Vata symptoms)--it's a dramatic seasonal transition and we need to attend to our dinacharya (daily rhythm--see Morning and Evening routines) and our ritucharya--seasonal adjustments to our Ayurveda plan to maintain balance.
Little tweaks to our daily choices go a long way to keeping us balanced and feeling our best mentally and physically. As Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
How to Flow Flawlessly into Fall
Our treatment trifecta of food as medicine, herbs, and Ayurvedic lifestyle tools may need adjusting with the seasonal transitions. 1. Food as Medicine. Start here with our online recipe box for Vata (fall) recipes. To explore more about food as medicine, click here. Some of our clients fall faves: Beet soup Immune Boosting Spiced Apple Cider, Vata Soothing Kitchari
A tip from our friends at Aamodt's Apple Orchard in Stillwater, Minnesota:
When apple season is winding down, of if you don't get to a local orchard often, purchase the half or gallon jugs of fresh cider. Pour a little bit out of the gallon and freeze the jugs. You'll have delicious hot spice immune boosting cider all fall and winter long.
2. Herbal Medicine. As life is ever changing, so are you! Your herbal protocol may need to be adjusted to best support how you are--here and now.
As with all herbs, the tenet of Ayurveda is that what works well for one person may be incorrect, unbalancing for another. To know what herbs are correct for you, schedule a consultation with an experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. (Herbs listed are for informational purposes only.)
"Ayurveda is gentle and effective because it is not a one size fits all approach. It is a compassionate look at the unique you-body, mind, and spirit, and gaining a clear picture of what is going on for you. Then, with clarity and specificity, providing you with the gentlest herbal remedies. It's not 'everyone take ashwagandha’, ‘it' is about you and only you, and what optimally supports your balance." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
3. Ayurveda Lifestyle Tools. Making small tweaks to your daily and evening routines, may have a significant impact on how you feel. As I am fond of saying, "Subtle is significant."
Explore More: What is Ayurveda? A Beginner's Guide and Beyond
Explore Saumya Ayurveda Seasonal Cleanses.
Our bodies and minds build up ama - toxins and energetic gunk - as we move throughout the world. Every day, we’re assaulted with more than we can digest: food, stimulation, stress, environmental pollutants... the list goes on and on.
An ounce of prevention? What a difference it makes! Regular cleansing helps us reset, repair, rest, and rejuvenate. When the tsunami of stimulation ceases, our bodies and minds know what to do. In the gentle slowness of cleansing time – we heal.
It’s ama-ditching time. Let’s do this.
“I was looking for a home cleansing program and Saumya Ayurveda delivered! I work full time, have a family, sports, commute, --and this cleanse was manageable! I had such a positive cleanse experience; I plan to do it again and I have it on my planner already."
- A.B., White Bear Lake, MN
One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is Swasthyashya Swasthya Rakshanam, which means to maintain the health, rather than Aturashya Vikara Prashamanancha, which means to cure disease. Following a supportive dinacharya (daily routines, especially morning and evening) and Ritucharya (seasonal routines) are key to good health. We likely need to tweak what we do with our daily and seasonal routines to feel out best.
An Once of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
While your foundational plan will take you a long way, you'll benefit from tweaking your program to best support you throughout the year. During your follow ups, we’ll cover a lot of ground, including: 1. Herbal Check-In The herbs you started with are not intended to be used indefinitely. Our approach is to use the fewest herbs, for the shortest amount of time, and get you balanced! In your herbal check-in, we’ll review your current protocol and tweak your dosages and formulas as needed. It might even be time to stop certain herbals. Your protocol is designed to gently and effectively support you. 2. Food Program Review You’ve already learned Food is Medicine, but our bodies and minds are always changing. We’ll check in on how things are progressing, and make small changes to your Food Program as needed. 3. Add to your Ayurvedic Lifestyle Tools Once you’ve integrated your foundational plan, it’s time to add to your lifestyle toolkit and expand your Ayurveda knowledge. We’ll explore in-depth aspects we can add to your plan to move you deeper into your healing path. A note: follow-up care is particularly essential for clients traversing perimenopause and menopause. This phase of life (which can last decades) is marked by profound hormonal and doshic changes. Your needs shift constantly and drastically during this period, especially during seasonal transitions. Regular follow-ups help prevent imbalances to keep you feeling your best.
Ayurveda and Autumn | How to Flow into Fall provides simple and easy to implement Ayurveda approach to feeling your best.
There is a saying, "The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3 step meditation process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze mode, to rest-restore-relax mode. Give it a try for forty days and observe the changes. The more grounded and relaxed we are, the smoother life flows.
"The breath is the connection between the mind and body, so by training the breath, we become calm, focused, and grounded, we slow down the aging process by decreasing stress. These practices are so simple and easy to have as part of our daily life. We actually feel and look younger."
- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
1. Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life. When we re-learn to breath diaphragmatically, we move from the flight-fight-freeze mode, to rest, restore, relaxation mode from where we want and need to live.
2. Daily Guided Practices: 11 minutes in the morning and in the evening, as anchors of your daily Ayurveda routine.
3. Ayurveda Daily Routines: Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day
"Choose a couple of practices from the routines that provide you with the greatest support. Perform them while applying our two minute meditation technique and your mundane tasks, just transformed into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation applied to daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
"Veena was able to help me regain my energy in just a few months and I’m feeling like my “young” self again! I love the food plan she designed for me, and all the supporting practices (am/pm routines, breathing techniques, herbs, and spice mixes) are so enjoyable to incorporate into my day. I highly recommend Saumya Ayurveda if you want to feel better and have more vitality.”
-Molly Rossini, Minnesota
Ayurvedic Medicines for Anxiety is a natural way to begin to alleviate excess Vata in the mind.
Explore More Breathwork: Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama
“As a physician, I have always believed ‘Prevention is better than cure.’ In an era of spiraling health care costs, Ayurveda is the logical and natural solution.
I started working with Veena at a time when I was at the end of my tether, juggling my professional and personal aspirations. She responded to my desperate call and went out of her way to find ways to work things into my busy schedule.
I was encouraged to pursue a steady approach to create lasting changes. Now when I see my patients, I see so many sufferings from similar symptoms related to diet and stress. I have routed several of my patients to Saumya Ayurveda. Veena is a blessing to have such a rich resource.
I am eternally grateful to Veena for anchoring me to my present state of health and peacefulness and for helping me to embark on a path towards the balance we all are striving for. Thank you so much.” — Gauri Nagargoje, M.D.
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Veena on some major health issues. She heard what I said and seemed to really feel what was going on in my body. Because of these things, she knew what I was going through and could guide my life-choices and provide the right Ayurvedic remedies. Over the past few months, I've made significant progress. Not only am I planning on continuing with Veena, but I can wholeheartedly recommend her to my relatives, friends, and colleagues. -- Randall Krause, Los Angeles, California
“One of the benefits of working with Saumya Ayurveda is the ease of virtual appointments. It's easier, in fact, than seeing my primary care doctor here in my own town.
Every member of my family has had consultations with Saumya Ayurveda – so we know how to eat well, what herbs to use,, and we understand our constitutions and how to maintain balance.
Veena recommends treatment options that are natural and easy to use. She figures out how to treat things that I can find at the local grocery or local health food stores, so we can start treatment straight away.
Veena goes the extra mile. Saumya Ayurveda's quality of care is beyond compare. Veena has been there for me and my family to maintain health.” --C.B. Charlottesville, Virgnia
Flowing into Fall: Ayurvedic Tips for Staying Balanced During the Autumn Season. It's a dramatic change from summer, Pitta season to autumn, Vata season. Book your seasonal follow up here.
Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way
We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.
Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Opt for virtual consultations and we'll come to you.
Our practice model is client focused, we’re not in the retail herb business. We’ll guide you where to order herbs directly online. Our top-shelf Ayurveda oils and herbalized ghees are the best in the land and we’ll ship your care package right to your doorstep.
Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.
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Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
These childhood experiences were the seeds of a lifelong passion. For over 30 years, Veena has dedicated her life to the world’s oldest healing system: Ayurveda.
She draws on this ancient wisdom to help others find their compass to a healthy life – and support those left wanting by Western medicine.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually. Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
Vata is one of our newest Saumya pack members.
He keeps his nose to the ground serves up canine sweetness to our clients. He's also a good listener.
Check out those ears!
Helpful fall tip: Soothe Vata doshas by keeping your neck and ears covered from wind and cool draft