The fall equinox is today. First official day of Fall. Preceded by a lovely harvest moon we are now headlong into my least and most favorite season. (Remember the benefits of moon watching.)
I try to revel in what is offered in each season and Fall’s beauty is undeniable — redolent and evocative as the dusky smells and the crunch of the leaves underfoot.
I am thinking of pumpkin colored misty fields on an Indian summer’s day, but like a Woody Allen character I am also thinking of long cold dark winter days ahead when my Mediterranean self is longing for sunshine and warmth.
Herewith some tips for falling into Fall gracefully and taking advantage of being here now:
Theory: Manage the effects of the season. Look at the qualities of fall (drying, crispy leaves, blustery winds); look at qualities that predominate in your constitution (take the quiz) and; look at the qualities that best describe any imbalances/symptoms you are currently feeling. (Hint: Vata imbalances may produce insomnia, anxiety, excessive stress, constipation, colds and flu, joint pains and increased seasonal allergies.) Remember too that you may have accumulated heat over the summer and especially if you are a naturally Pitta (fiery) person, resulting symptoms like inflammation, anger/irritation, over-drive mentality, dry-skin, rashes, slow digestion may crop up. These need to be dissipated so that you do not carry these imbalances forward where the cold, volatile qualities of fall and winter will take advantage and your immune system will suffer, seasonal allergies may worsen etc.
Tools:
Herbs: Try a teaspoon of the traditional herbal jam called Chyavanprash daily for improved immunity and stability in this volatile season. Click Here for Chyavanprash
For The Body: try the obvious cozy warm sweaters and keep your head covered, and exercise that balances the symptoms and qualities you are experiencing .
For the Diet: look for foods and preparations that have sweet sour and salty flavors, nourishing, moist and soothing. Pumpkin, Squash and in particular Apples (cooling and purgative), Pomegranate (anti-heating, anti-oxidant) and late season watermelon are all cooling (get rid of leftover summer heat accumulation) and detoxifying. Beware the apple which hits the Dirty Dozen Pesticide contamination lists: choose only organic, washed fruit. Drink hot or warm, not cold water, teas, soups etc. Think ginger, cloves, cinnamon, chamomile.
For Fitness: Fluid, measured, warming. Look for longer inhalations and lesser exhalation, keep the gaze steady and soft at the horizon line, think of slow smooth, steady and rhythmic moves with plenty of twists and counter twists to create grounding.
And remember, as my husband always quotes hopefully:
“Autumn has it flowers too.” Alexander Pope.
Great post and advice. As a predominately Vata it was a good ‘heads up’ for the coming season. Love ur hubby’s reminder!
Excellent!
Lisa, Gracefully…. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts and wisdom…xo
Lisa – does one’s body also transition into fall when you live in a warm climate year round?
Great question. The body responds to the climate it is in, to be sure. But the equinox, signaling shorter days and the fall shift exists wherever you are so it is all a question of degrees…literally. If you are in the Southern US where it remains hot and humid long after the fall equinox, you will surely respond differently than someone in the northeast where the shortening of daylight hours, cold winds and dipping temperatures are a stark and marked reality. These issues were less prevalent than in centuries past when people pretty much stayed put or traveled by horse or sailing ship and there was more time to acclimate to the new environment. So what does this all mean? It means that the first step is to be mindful of your own constitution and imbalances wherever you live. Then pay attention to the qualities of the climate and season where you are. If it is still hot and humid then the heat you have built over the summer months will still abound. The shorter days and waning sunlight hours will still cool things down a bit, but heat (read as inflammation) conditions may flare up more insistently for a longer period of time. Eating for the seasons remains true, but your warmer climate may dictate different “seasonal” realities and, for example, lighter salads, mango, papaya, pomogranate and watermelon are your locals to keep the system cool and flowing. Apples are a cooling purgative remedy wherever you are. Also remember that though the climate is more temperate, winter is still approaching and the rhythms of the 4 seasons, though more subtle, are still a reality. You may just need to pay a little closer attention. I hope this helps put the Seasonal understanding of things in perspective.
Lisa,
I love your updates: short, sweet and to the point! I also appreciate the seasonal/climate question as a Vata/Pitta who lives in the Midwest and then travels to FL for Jan thru March.