Fall the Vata Season

Fall is here 

Here in New England the colors of the leaves just pop, a burst of red, gold, yellow, orange, dark green, light green, rust. Fall is a beautiful time of year. The cool crisp mornings, the shorter days are a reminder to us to slow down to stop and to reflect. Fall is the classic vata season which embodies dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear. If we consider the Ayurvedic principle that opposites balance, vata season will be less aggravating if you fill it with warmth, oiliness, deep nourishment, loving relationships, and a sense of stability, routine, and groundedness. Types of food to favor in Fall  .

Fall is here and that means cold and flu viruses are everywhere.

 Did you know that you can prevent colds and the flu by adapting the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda? To keep are body in balance we should be eating foods that are nourishing, more grounding. Balancing the nature of your local climate with lifestyle choices that offset the potential for seasonally-induced imbalances is one of the simplest ways that you can protect your body.

According to this holistic healing system, vata (ruled by the elements of air and ether) tends to increase in the fall. Often translated as "wind" or "that which moves", vata's qualities are cold, dry light, mobile and erratic. You can see these qualities manifesting outside: The leaves are getting brittle and dry, the temperatures are dropping and fluctuating, and the wind is picking up speed.

These changes also affect the body and the mind. Signs that your vata dosha is gaining too much momentum are:

• Chapped lips, dry skin & nasal passages
• Constipation, gas, bloating
• earaches, tinnitus
• Cold hands & feet, sensitivity to cold
• Feeling restless, depleted, weak
• Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating
• Hyperactivity
• Nervousness, anxiety, fearfulness 

Holistic ways to prevent cold and flu naturally:

1. Reduce stress. Ayurveda and allopathic medicine both agree that stress can reduce the functioning of your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to illness. One of the best ways to balance vata in the fall, is to reduce your stress level. A Study published in the Health Psychology found that "severe chronic stress" lasting for more than one month can double your chances of getting sick when you're exposed to a cold virus. To reduce stress, prioritize selfcare and make sure your work and social responsibilities are manageable. Exercising daily also helps.

2. Get more sleep. Science backs up this Ayurvedic adage. In 2009, researchers at Carnegie Mellon found that people who get less than an average of seven hours of sleep nightly were three times more likely to catch a cold.