Why Don’t You: Ayurvedic Fall Practices to Start Doing Right Now

Fall is the quintessential season of change. We move from the lazy last days of summer, to getting back to business in what feels like overnight. It can be an exciting time--maybe you get a surge of motivation to try a new routine or reassess habits; it can also get a little overwhelming-- things tend to move fast, and our bodies and mind take the brunt of it. While it mat feel schizophrenic, both responses are perfectly normal.

In the ancient Indian system of holistic health, fall is known as Vata season. Vata, associated with air and space, is cool, dry, and mobile—much like the crisp, windy days of autumn. On the positive side, this energy brings creativity, inspiration, and a lightness that mirrors the fresh start of the season. However, Vata's erratic nature can also lead to imbalance, causing restlessness, anxiety, and dryness in the body. Grounding routines, warm foods, and staying hydrated are key to balancing these qualities during fall.

So at the start of this season, lets explore simple yet transformative Ayurvedic practices you can start implementing today to stay grounded, nourished, and healthy throughout the fall months.

1. Adjust Your Diet to Balance Vata

What we eat during the fall months can either calm or exacerbate the effects of Vata. In Ayurveda, it’s recommended to eat warm, moist, and grounding foods to counterbalance the cold and dryness of the season.

Try an easy to digest and warming lentil soup for evening meals. Recipe Here

Key Tips for a Vata-Pacifying Fall Diet:

• Favor Cooked Foods: Choose soups, stews, and steamed vegetables over raw salads and cold foods.

• Incorporate Warming Spices: Add spices like ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom to stimulate digestion and increase warmth.

• Embrace Root Vegetables: Foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets are grounding and stabilize Vata.

• Healthy Fats: Incorporate oils like ghee, sesame oil, and olive oil to provide moisture and lubrication, preventing dry skin and brittle hair.

• Hydrate Warmly: Drink warm teas (like ginger or cinnamon tea) and hot water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated and digestion smooth.

By focusing on these dietary shifts, you can significantly reduce the seasonal imbalances of Vata and improve your energy levels and overall well-being.

2. Establish a Calming Fall Morning Routine

A morning routine is essential to ground the scattered energy of Vata, and Ayurvedic practices offer a series of rituals to help you start the day centered and calm.

Ayurvedic Morning Practices to Embrace:

• Wake Up Early: Ideally, rise with the sun (between 5:30-7:00 AM), as the morning hours are naturally calming and help you begin the day without rushing.

• Tongue Scraping: This simple practice clears away toxins and improves digestion—an important factor for maintaining balance in Vata season.

• Warm Oil Massage (Abhyanga): Use warm sesame or almond oil for self-massage to ground and moisturize the body. It also helps alleviate joint stiffness and improves circulation.

• Gentle Movement: Practice gentle yoga or stretches that focus on grounding poses like child’s pose and forward folds to stabilize Vata energy.

• Meditation or Pranayama: Start the day with breathing exercises or meditation to calm the mind and body.

This Ayurvedic morning routine helps set a peaceful, grounded tone for the rest of the day, protecting you from the erratic energy of Vata.

3. Prioritize Hydration & Herbal Teas

Try this tea recipe to naturally boost immunity

During fall, dryness can affect both your skin and internal systems. Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of hydration in keeping Vata in check.

Ways to Stay Hydrated in Fall:

• Drink Warm Water: Instead of cold beverages, which can aggravate Vata, sip warm water throughout the day. It aids digestion and keeps you warm.

• Herbal Teas for Fall: Opt for ginger tea, cinnamon tea, or licorice tea, all of which have warming, digestive properties.

• Hydrate the Skin: Beyond drinking water, it's important to hydrate your skin. Use natural oils like coconut or sesame oil to nourish and keep it moisturized.

Hydration is more than just drinking water—it’s about infusing warmth and nourishment into your body throughout the day.

4. Focus on Warming, Grounding Exercise

While exercise is important year-round, your movement routine should change with the seasons. In the fall, opt for activities that are slow, steady, and grounding to avoid overstimulating the already light and airy Vata dosha.

Best Fall Exercises for Vata:

• Yoga: Focus on grounding asanas (postures) such as tree pose, mountain pose, and warrior poses to strengthen and balance.

• Pilates: A gentle, flowing Pilates routine helps build core strength while maintaining grounding stability.

• Walking: Go for a brisk walk in nature to connect with the earth, calm your mind, and counteract the spacey nature of Vata.

Avoid high-intensity, erratic workouts in fall, as they can aggravate Vata and leave you feeling depleted.

go to: Updating Your Pilates Routine for Fall: A Holistic Approach

5. Get Quality Sleep

Vata season often disrupts sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or light, restless sleep. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine and following certain Ayurvedic guidelines can help you sleep better during this time of year.

Sleep Tips for Fall:

• Wind Down Early: Aim to be in bed by 10 PM to get proper rest.

• Evening Oil Massage: Try a soothing self-massage with warm sesame oil before bed to calm the nervous system.

• Sip Warm Milk: Drinking warm spiced milk (with nutmeg, cinnamon, or turmeric) before bed can soothe the mind and promote deep sleep.

By focusing on proper sleep hygiene, you’ll feel more rested, rejuvenated, and better equipped to manage the energy shifts of Vata season.

6. Embrace Fall Rituals to Calm the Mind

In Vata season, the mind can become restless, anxious, or overactive. To counterbalance this, Ayurveda recommends slowing down and incorporating daily rituals that promote mental clarity and relaxation.

Mind-Calming Fall Rituals:

• Daily Meditation: Practice mindful meditation for 10-20 minutes each morning or evening to ground yourself.

• Aromatherapy: Use warming essential oils like frankincense, sandalwood, or vetiver to calm the nervous system.

• Journaling: Spend time reflecting on your thoughts or practicing gratitude each evening. Writing down your thoughts can help declutter an overactive mind.

• Digital Detox: Reduce screen time before bed to avoid overstimulation, which can heighten Vata’s tendency for mental restlessness.

These calming practices help you transition into a more mindful, slower pace as the fall season unfolds.

Fall offers us a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, slow down, and nourish the body and mind. By integrating these Ayurvedic practices into your daily routine, you can experience greater balance, warmth, and stability throughout the season. Whether you’re adjusting your diet, practicing mindful movement, or embracing new rituals, these simple changes can have a profound effect on your overall well-being. So, why don’t you start these Ayurvedic fall practices today and give yourself the gift of grounded, radiant health?