As much as I love the vibrancy of summer,I also get this sense of relief  when the days start getting shorter and darker. It has been another fun and eventful Summer but drinking a warm cup of tea under a blanket sounds appealing too doesnt it?! Autumn is a transitional period and a great opportunity to turn inward and let go of what no longer serves us. 

As we transition into Autumn, the season of Vata (Air & Ether), Ayurveda can help us to bring balance and well-being into our lives. Autumn is a time of shorter days, longer nights, and a shift toward qualities of light, dryness, coldness, mobility, subtleness, and roughness in nature.

Understanding the Seasonal Shift

Ayurveda encourages us to recognize and adapt to these seasonal changes for optimal health and wellbeing. Autumn and early winter are considered Vata seasons, and to stay in harmony with nature, it’s essential to adjust our routines, diets and overall activities.

Mindful Living in Autumn

As the external environment shifts during autumn, our internal systems can experience similar changes. Dry leaves may correspond to dry skin, windy days to unsettled bowels, and colder weather to chilled extremities. To counter these effects, consider the following Ayurvedic recommendations:

• Maintain Routine: Stick to a regular schedule for meals, sleep, work, and exercise.
• Abhyanga: Practice daily self-massage with a Vata-balancing oil, followed by a warm water shower.
• Diet: Embrace warm, moist, sweet, sour, and salty seasonal foods. Opt for cooked fruits like apples and pears. Avoid raw foods, and include healthy fats like ghee. Stay hydrated with warm water, herbal teas, and ginger-infused water to boost your digestive fire. Most dairy products are suitable, except for hard cheeses, plain yogurt, and ice cream. A warm milk infusion with a pinch of cardamom is a delightful choice.
• Spices: Incorporate warming and grounding spices such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, asafetida, nutmeg, and cumin into your meals.
• Essential Oils: Use essential oils like rose, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, and lemon for a calming and grounding effect.
• Clothing: Dress warmly, ensuring you cover your head, ears, hands, and feet. Opt for warm colors like red, orange, and yellow.
• Connect with Nature: Spend time outdoors, engaging in activities like gardening, bushwalks, park visits, or simply observing the beauty of plants and animals.
• Physical Activity: Incorporate gentle and warming exercises like yoga and breathing practices into your routine.
• Meditation: Stay present, turn inward, and connect with the earth through practices like yoga nidra and conscious breathing. Seek moments of silence. Grounding practices are super important during this airy season.

Detox for Autumn: Why It’s Essential

Autumn is a period of transition for all living beings, making it an ideal season for detoxification. Aligning ourselves with nature’s rhythms through detox can lead to improved health and vitality. Here’s why detoxing in autumn is beneficial:

• Boost Immunity: Cleansing the body enhances immunity and increases energy reserves (ojas).
• Prepare for Winter: Detoxing helps prepare the body to face the challenges of the cold winter season.
• Sustain Energy: By clearing toxins, you can stay focused and alert during the shorter autumn days.
• Emotional Balance: Prevent vata-related imbalances such as instability, anxiety, and nervousness through detoxification.
• Optimize Digestion: Detoxing supports a balanced digestive fire (agni), leading to improved digestion, absorption, and metabolism.
• Stay Warm and Radiant: Detoxing helps maintain body warmth and vitality during the cold months ahead.
• Reduce Mucus: Eliminate mucus buildup and cleanse bodily channels for overall wellness.
• Improves Sleep: It’s important we go to bed early and get up early to keep energy levels high. 
• Supports Weightloss (if needed).

Doing an Autumn Detox is a fantastic way to gradually move our bodies and minds into the new season. Conventionally the Autumn Detox is held during the Autumn equinox (this year september 23rd) and lasts 10 days. 

The Autumn Detox 2023 will be Ayurveda Mum’s first guided Detox! I will host it October fill out dates and it will be 5-7 days rather than the more common 10 days.