Ayurvedic Practices for Cooler Weather

Ayurveda is broken down into two concepts; Ayus, meaning life or (consisting of body, mind, senses and soul) or longevity and Veda, meaning knowledge or wisdom. This translates to “the science (or truth) of life” or “wisdom of longevity”. Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga, as they are both concerned with the development of the soul and, as a means to that end, the proper care of the body and the mind. In this light, Ayurveda is considered the original mind-body medicine. Ayurveda shares in its teachings how the body, mind and spirit must exist in harmony for us to be truly healthy and happy. All three must be considered, managed and nourished throughout life. 

I had many different exposures to Ayurveda through my experiences as a kid taking herbs, to a lecture in my very first teacher training program. After suffering a bulging disc injury that took me off my yoga mat for six months, I began a 10-day wellness cleanse where I was able to decrease inflammation and ease pain in my back. I had found a new way to feel good in my body, something I was missing from my physical yoga practice. That curiosity grew when I was looking for other ways to mend chronic illness in my body. I dove deep into my 500-hour Ayurveda Yoga Teacher Training program and studied further to become an Ayurveda Health Counselor. 

As the season starts to shift from sharp, hot, humid summer and the qualities of fall start to kick in, so does dry, cold, hard, rough weather. It’s important to pacify certain qualities of the late summer and early fall, to help prevent illness and build immunity as we enter into the colder times of the year. I want to share two important laws of Ayurveda that can help support you in this transitional time: “like increases like” and “opposites create balance”. For example, if it’s a hot day and I take a hot yoga class at noon, I am likely going to experience too much heat in my body. The fire element in my body will wreak havoc on my mood, skin and digestion. With these two principles in mind, here are some things you can do to prevent some of the ill effects of the transition from summer to fall.

• Pacify the fire and water elements in your body by incorporating fall harvest in your diet. Favor more sweet, sour and salty tastes into your diet. Fruits like apples and pears are sweet, which help to calm the fire element. They are also cleansing, helping to clear extra water from the system. Eating more root vegetables will help ground you on cooler, windy days and cooking your food really will help stoke your digestion after the summer has dampened our digestive fire.

• Keep a good sleep and wake routine. Aim to tuck yourself in when you start to feel the yawns (between 9-10p) and wake with the sunrise (6-7a) to help manage the frantic energy that fall can bring.

• Try adding a nourishing self-massage oiling practice. Heat 2-3 oz. of oil in warm water by keeping it in it’s jar (coconut if you run hot, sesame if you run cold or sunflower if you feel in between). Massage your joints in circular motions, long bones in long motions and on your belly, clockwise to match your digestion. Once you’ve covered your body (this should take about 10-20 mins), get in a warm shower and allow the water to rinse of the oil. The oil will help keep your skin supple and soft, improve circulation and move lymph, as well as promote elimination.

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind: Ayurveda teaches us the path of moderation, so practice your yoga, be mindful of your diet and lifestyle practices and incorporate routines that make you feel good. Do this more days than you don’t! When all else feels like too much, or too complicated, take this time to slow down and enjoy your loved ones. 

For more yoga to compliment your Ayurvedic practices, try out CorePower Yoga on Demand.