Autumn’s shift to darker nights and cooler days can leave you feeling a little out of balance both physically and spiritually. With summer about to end, not only will you start to notice the leaves turning deep yellow, red and, brown, you may also notice a physical and emotional transition in yourself, too. Autumn can affect everything from health and mood, to energy levels and our natural circadian rhythms. That’s why it’s essential to keep yourself grounded and in touch with your body and the nature that surrounds you.
Here are a few simple steps inspired by our love of Ayurveda to help stay balanced in body, mind and soul, during the change of the seasons.
STAY AHEAD OF THE COLD
Eating lots of different seasonal fruits and vegetables is great for your gut health and therefore your immune system. Cooked foods are key to keeping your digestive system balanced during the colder weather, so start roasting veggies and making stews. This Indian Saag will keep your body warm and comfortable during those rainy autumn nights.
Recommended Routine: Rather than leaning on caffeine to get you through the day, enjoy a few cups of this awakening Ayurvedic tea with health-boosting ginger and cardamom, and enjoy all the health benefits it has to offer.
KEEP YOURSELF GROUNDED
When we try to adjust to the changing season, we’re often looking for ways to connect to our body and regain our balance. Try to fine-tune your daily schedule and reconnect with your circadian rhythm.
Recommended Routine: When life feels unpredictable, try adding grounding asanas into your yoga sequence to help you feel calm and balanced. This yoga sequence was created for emotional stability and relaxation.
LIGHTEN UP
Autumn doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all day; it’s actually better not to. Daylight positively affects your energy and serotonin levels. So, get your daily dose of light from the best source: the sun (even if you can’t see it directly). As Vedic educator Nirmala Raniga recommends: “As you embrace the beauty of Nature’s bounty, reflect on your own connection to nature and move in harmony with her rhythms as the seasons change.”
Recommended Routine: Start your day with a walk in a natural environment whether that’s the local beach, park or canal. Walking is a great alternative to doing yoga when you want to feel more grounded in nature.
TRY LETTING GO
Autumn can leave us feeling slightly melancholic from time to time. So, while you’re reflecting on your personal connection to nature and the change of the season, a next step might be to pay attention to your mood.
Recommended Routine: Consider picking up a journal and writing down what is going on inside. Do you have any emotions that have been lingering below the surface, waiting to be acknowledged or to be released? See if you feel ready to let go of emotions that no longer serve you as you enter a new season.
EMBRACE THE DOWN TIMES
Sometimes, it’s better to accept feeling a little tired. Embrace it, even. Tiredness is often a sign that we need rest, so why fight it? It’s a sign to give your body, mind and soul what it needs to get you through this seasonal change.
Recommended Routine: Treat yourself to this Ayurvedic self-massage (abhyanga) after a long day. This massage increases circulation, calms the nerves and helps you sleep better at night.
The start of autumn has never felt more relaxed than this, we promise.
