​Not so fast, my friends: Even though the signs of fall are surely arriving, summer isn’t through with us yet. So today we offer the tenth and final installment in our “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series.” Over the past couple of months we’ve tried to explain how the hot, wet weather of summer transitions into the cold, dry weather of fall. Here in the northern hemisphere the earth is making this transition, and our bodies must make this shift too.

Ayurveda teaches about “thermal accumulation,” an interesting phenomenon that happens at summer’s end. As the summer progresses the earth heats up internally. And because we are earth-bound people, we also heat up internally. If the heat accumulates unchecked, we put ourselves at risk for poor health this fall and winter. This is why Ayurveda teaches us to take care of ourselves in the current season so that our immune system can be strong in the next one.

Here are some of the symptoms of thermal accumulation: diarrhea, inflammation, hot flashes, skin rashes, poor digestion and allergies. As the weather begins to turn cooler, these symptoms can change to constipation, dry skin and fall colds. If the immune system is weak, even more serious illnesses can arise. 

Ayurveda also teaches that prevention is the key. We are still under the influence of pitta, the hot season of the year. Eat cooling foods: cucumber, cilantro, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains. Favor Pitta-pacifying foods that taste sweet, bitter, or astringent. Avoid foods that are pungent, sour, or salty. 

The two best foods for easing thermal accumulation are apples and watermelon. And both are abundantly available in stores right now. Eat one or both every day.

To reset the digestive system you might consider doing a four-day kitchari cleanse in September to coincide with the change of seasons. Kitchari is a mixture of basmati rice and mung dal cooked with spices. Here’s a recipe to get you started

Also stay hydrated, even when it’s humid. Drinks should be room temperature or hotter. Never drink cold drinks because they douse digestive fire. Strive to drink ½ of your body weight in ounces each day (150lbs = 75 oz or about 9 cups)

Follow these guidelines and you’ll glide into Fall with a strong immune system!

​This is the ninth installment of our “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series.” This week and next week are transitional posts as we make that all-important shift from summer to fall. You feel it too, right? Shorter days, cooler mornings and evenings, and the changing energy as we let go of carefree summer and get to work on fall projects. 

This transition is so very important because fall is a time when people are susceptible to getting sick. Sure, we might get a summer cold or a tummy ache from too much ice cream, but fall sickness is often worse—flu, virus, coughing, pneumonia, etc. According to Ayurveda, fall sickness is not inevitable, and there are things we can do to make a healthy transition into fall. 

For one thing we have to recognize that when we shift seasons we are also shifting dosha dominance. As we’ve seen, pitta dosha has primarily hot and wet qualities. As we move into fall, however, the qualities of vata dosha, cold and dry, begin to appear. Notice that the dominant qualities are actually opposite. Ayurveda teaches that we must mitigate the qualities of one dosha before we can embrace the qualities of another.  

In next week’s blog post we’ll talk about transitions in the body through food and lifestyle, but this week we will offer a meditation that can foster a calm mind. Have you ever wondered why we feel mentally overwhelmed when the fall arrives? Most of us would say it’s because school is starting and we’re already stressing out about the holidays. But Ayurveda offers a different answer: It’s because pitta is declining, vata is increasing and we are affected by the one quality they share: They are both mobile.

The mobile quality of pitta is our inclination to keep pushing and moving forward. In the summer it’s fueled by lots of healthy foods and long days to hike and hang out at the beach. Pitta is naturally hot and wet, so these experiences are welcomed and usually well-tolerated.

But things take a dramatic turn when this same mobile quality moves into vata season. Since vata is cold and dry, it tires more quickly as the days get shorter. Piling on more work at the start of the school year feels overwhelming when vata just wants to rest. Before long vata becomes aggravated and we experience insomnia, anxiety, dry skin and constipation. 

Here’s an excellent way to work with the mobile quality of the mind during the transition from summer into fall. So Hum is simple breath meditation that affirms our connection to a greater energy that has the power to calm and heal us. 

Sit in a chair with feet on the floor, or sit on the floor with legs crossed. Sit up tall so that the spine is erect but relaxed. Breathe in and out through the nose, closing the eyes if you like. When you breathe in, hear the sound SO, a mantra that refers to the Great Energy that holds everything together. When you breathe out, hear the sound HUM, a mantra that refers to the individual—YOU!—having this experience of life. Repeat the mantra So Hum for 5-20 minutes each day. It could be just what you need to meet the challenges of a busy seasonal change.

​Our first COLD days have arrived! Welcome to the start of VATA season, at least according to Ayurveda. In case you don’t know, Ayurveda is traditional Indian medicine and provides an excellent blueprint for living daily life. Whereas Western medicine focuses on treatment, Ayurveda focuses on prevention so that we can be happy and healthy our whole life.

Our first clue that Vata season was upon us is “weather whiplash”—temperatures going up and down, sometimes within several hours. Ayurveda calls this Vata season. (Vata is one of the three doshas in Ayurveda.) The qualities of Vata are cold, dry, light, mobile, rough, erratic and clear. You feel chilled in late fall/early winter, your skin is dry and rough, the wind takes your breath away and blows away all debris, you don’t know how to dress from day-to-day, and you feel the need for more rest. Here are some things you can do to stay well this month: 

►Wear a scarf to protect the ears, neck and chest
►Eat warming, soothing, easily digested meals such as soups and stews 
►Avoid cold and raw foods. Skip the salads!
►Avoid cold or iced drinks. All drinks should be room temperature or hotter.
►Avoid skipping meals or fasting 
►Do regular yoga, meditation and pranayama 
►Exercise regularly to keep circulation flowing 
►Get exposure to sunlight whenever possible 
►Daily oil massage. My favorite oils for this season are Sesame oil and Ashwaghanda Bala oil. You can order them from https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/
►Keep warm and dry and stay out of strong winds. It’s best to dress in layers. 
►Drink warming herbal teas, such as ginger and cinnamon. Limit caffeine since it aggravates Vata.
►Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The nights are longer this time of year for a reason.

While you don’t have to do all of these things, the more you can do the better you will feel. Even a few changes can bring you back into balance. I hope you’ll give it a try!