Welcome Autumn!

I can't say that I have a favorite season because there are elements of each that bring me joy. In autumn I enjoy...

• The leaves changing color.
• The cooler temperatures and lower humidity.
• The harvest of root vegetables and my craving for thick, creamy soups and stews.

Autumn is a cool, dry season, corresponding to the earth elements of air and ether. In Ayurveda, a sister science to yoga, this is known as a Vata season - light, airy, cool. We all have inside us a degree of Vata. Those who identify with the qualities of Vata may have:

• long, slender bones with very mobile joints
• dryness in the skin, hair, and nails
• a creative mind that quickly hops from one thought to another

Does this describe you? A little or a lot?
Ayurveda teaches us how to adjust our diets and exercise (including yoga asana) to adapt to the changing seasons. For those who have Vata tendencies, try:

Slowing down your yoga practice.

• Move slowly from one pose to the next
• Breath slowly and deeply as you move
• Hold poses longer
• Choose poses that are closer to the ground (reclined/seated vs. standing)
• Include forward folds and twists; avoid or do fewer back bending postures

Eating foods that are warm and moist (to counter the cool dryness of Vata)

• Roasted root vegetables, such as winter squash, parsnips, carrots, turnips and beets
• Cream-based soups and stews (for vegetarians look for recipes using coconut milk or cashews as thickeners)
• Avoid cool dry foods such as crackers, salads and other raw vegetables.

If you're curious about Ayurveda and your body type (or dosha), you can learn more at More Than a Dosha Quiz from Banyan Botanicals. Then read Fall Guide: An Ayurvedic Guide to a Soothing and Stable Vata Season for more information about navigating the change of season.