Knock, Knock
Who's there
Change of Season
Change of Season Who
Change of Season to Vata that is who
As our planet revolves around the sun, we are once more entering the beautiful season of Vata (air & ether) here in the northeast. The weather will start to cool down as the leaves begin their magnificent descent into all the crimson colors of the season and the days will shorten.
We have been here before and we have the tools to enter the season with ease. You can keep your digestive fires high and enjoy all that this season has to offer. It is is a splendid time to do a one day cleanse to cool off the digestive system from the heat of the summer (Pitta time). BUT, I do not recommend a cooling juice cleanse as this is usually reserved for those with a Kapha imbalance and can actually lower your digestive fire and increase the element of Vata. Instead, why not try a kitchari cleanse or a one fast of drinking clear warm broths only. Check out my latest easy to make kitchari recipt HERE.
Give yourself a checklist to see how you are doing with your dinacharya (daily rituals). Do you have enough sesame oil on hand? What about your neti pot and tongue scraper? Maybe you need to add some Triphala (www.banyanbotanicals.com) as an adaptogenic to your diet. Triphala is composed of three Indian fruits (Amalaki, Bibhitaki, Haritaki) which are excellent in supporting and tonifying the digestive system. It is balancing for all three doshas and is usually taken daily. Also, begin to adjust your diet. I start to add root vegetables that now grow in the east. I also make my apple recipe with ghee and warming spices for breakfast or as a treat (See recipe HERE). Summer is a time we all tend to take a break whether in school or not, so let's sharpen our pencils and get back on board where we might have slacked off a little.
In your yoga practice it is beneficial to start adding some more grounding asanas if you have not already done so. Standing in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is a great place to start as you ground your feet into the earth and become aware of the bones in your body that support you. Start including some chair poses to your practice as well. When you are in your poses see if you can hold them for a longer period of time as you breathe, allowing your bones to sink in and ground gently. Only do so if you can breathe as forcing the pose can cause injury and just create more of a Vata imbalance in your body.
In your pranayama practice work with lengthening your exhales as well as adding Ujjayi breath.
In your meditation, just be a witness to your breath as it enters and exits the nostrils. Think of slowing down, non attachment, just being the conscious witness.
I like to add the sound of LAM, which is associated with the root chakra to my meditation practice especially at this time of the year.
I invite you to look back at my blogs and recipes on my website for more information.
Remember, if you start to feel jittery, anxious, scattered, constipated, it could be because the elements of air and ether are increasing in your body, but also remember that you have the knowledge and information to bring them back into balance.