Ayurvedic Seasonal Transitions – How To Flow Flawlessly Into Fall

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We all benefit from a helping hand to keep our doshas balanced during seasonal transitions.

Transitions. What’s the big deal? When transitions occur, whether it’s a seasonal, job, relocation, relationship, change in health—all of these have the potential to imbalance Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the balance of the doshas, so we feel our best mentally, physically and spiritually.

Since the only constant is change–whether it’s the time of day the doshas dominate, the season, or the doshic stage of life we’re in–life is dynamic. Ayurveda understands the importance of maintaining balance of the doshas, especially during transitions when the doshas are more vulnerable. To do so, we likely need to tweak our dinacharya (daily routines) and ritucharya (seasonal routines).

When the doshas are balanced, we feel good mentally and physically, and when we are presented with challenges, we are better able to face them, and sometimes, we surprise ourselves at how we evenly we can flow with life.

With seasonal transitions, to regain or maintain balance of the doshas is the name of the game. We want to benefit from the supportive effects of the season, and to mitigate against the not so beneficial changes.

Personally, I experience Autumn as a particularly spiritually rich season, and I want my doshas balanced so I can dive deep into what this season naturally offers. For others, the shorter, darker, cooler days are not welcomed and feelings of anxiety, disrupted sleep, and digestive issues show up.

What is supportive and balancing for each person depends on their constitution (prakruti), their current condition (vikruti), location and stage of life; as such, what brings balance….you got it-you know me–“it depends.” Many imbalances today are due to our disconnection from a lack of following the seasonal influences and knowing how to maintain our health. We need to learn what is correct for us and not a one size fits all approach.

SEE ALSO: 7 Point Acupressure Refresher – 12-Minute Practice

What is Ritucharya or Ayurvedic Seasonal Transitions?

In Sanskrit, the word is Ritucharya meana to synchronize the body and mind to the changes naturally occurring. Sometimes we have a funny notion that we are separate from nature, but we’re not. What happens in the environment has an influence. We say, “I’m going for a walk in nature,” yet we are nature–the fresh air we breathe in is the air in our lungs, the calcium in the rock is calcium in our bones, and on it goes. The five elements, pancha mahabhuta that comprise the universe, are the same great elements from which we are made.

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Depending on one’s doshic picture, certain seasonal transitions have more influence. In my experience, for most people, flowing from summer to fall can be challenging. Why? Many reasons–the length of the days changes, less sunlight has an impact, and for some people, a powerful impact. More time inside? Likely for many. Less active? That can happen too. Overall, happy brain chemicals that are nurtured by sunlight are less present.

For others, especially those with higher Pitta, the arrival of the cooler, drier weather feels like a cellular-level sigh of relief, and a boost of energy manifests–the fresh, crisp air adds pep to every step.

We say, “I’m going for a walk in nature,” yet we are nature–the fresh air we breathe in, is the air in our lungs, the calcium in the rock is calcium in our bones, and on it goes. The five elements, pancha mahabhuta that comprise the universe are the same great elements from which we are made.

Depending on one’s doshic picture, certain seasonal transitions have more influence. In my experience, for most people, flowing from summer to fall can be challenging. Why? Lots of reasons–the length of the days changes, less sunlight has an impact, and for some people, a powerful impact. More time inside? Likely for many. Less active? That can happen too. Overall, happy brain chemicals that are nurtured by sunlight are less present.

For others, especially those with higher Pitta, the arrival of the cooler, drier weather feels like a cellular-level sigh of relief, and a boost of energy manifests–the fresh, crisp air adds pep to every step.

How to Flow Flawlessly into Fall

Our treatment trio of food as medicine, herbs, and Ayurvedic lifestyle tools may need adjusting with the seasonal transitions.

1. Food as medicine. Start here with our online recipe box for Vata (fall) recipes. Beet soup for Vata, Pitta, Kapha-Immune Boosting Spiced Apple Cider, Vata Soothing Kitchari: Cleansing and Grounding, and more. Aamodt’s Apple Orchard in Stillwater, for those in Minnesota, is always a great weekend trip. Stock up on fresh pressed cider and apples. Calgary, Alberta has community orchards and this site for picking your own apples. Most areas have an abundance of options for apple harvesting.
2. When apple season is winding down, or if you don’t get to a local orchard often, purchase the gallon jugs of fresh cider. Pour a little bit out of the gallon and freeze the jugs. You’ll have delicious hot spice immune-boosting cider year-round.
3. Herbal Medicine. As life is ever-changing, so are you! Your herbal protocol may need to be adjusted to best support how you are–here and now.
4. Ayurveda Lifestyle Tools. Making small tweaks to your daily and evening routines may have a significant impact on how you feel. As I am fond of saying, “Subtle is significant.”

One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is Swasthyashya Swasthya Rakshanam, which means to maintain health, rather than Aturashya Vikara Prashamanancha, which means to cure disease. Following a supportive dinacharya (daily routines, especially morning and evening) and Ritucharya (seasonal routines) are key to good health. We likely need to tweak what we do with our daily and seasonal routines to feel out best.