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Fall is upon us, and with it the gifts of Mother Nature are generously bestowed as we transition into autumn. The elements parade their shifts in nature – temperatures turn cooler, leaves show new colors, days become shorter and wetter and we celebrate the harvest. While there is much to celebrate, this time of year gains much fame as the beginning of cold and flu (or, lately, Covid) season. With some awareness and a bit of effort, I encourage you to turn that image around. When an immune system is strong, it’s easy to stay healthy. If your immune system is weakened, seasonal changes can easily throw you off balance, making you susceptible to colds and flues. With busy and hectic lifestyles, there are many obstacles in our daily routine that work against our immune systems, and our health – inadequate sleep, excessive stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, etc.
There is no “one size fits all” solution to preventing illness, or even to building immunity. We are all unique. However, below are a few ideas I would like to share that should be considered as a way to optimize your health:
Harmonize Your Habits
Get adequate rest, reduce your stress and follow a routine that allows you to slow down and stay grounded. Try to get up, eat, exercise and go to bed at the same time every day. Early to bed, early to rise! Ayurveda offers us many self-care rituals to improve our wellness. You can incorporate the use of a neti pot to keep your sinuses clear, or do a daily oil massage to keep your lymphatic system healthy.
Eat With The Season
As the weather cools, we naturally crave warmer grounding foods. Go with it! Enjoy your fall apples, root vegetables and savory soups. Ayurvedically speaking, favor sweet, sour, salty tastes and eat fewer bitter, pungent and astringent foods. Warm and cozy foods are what your body needs, so enjoy it. Learn more about my favorite fall foods!
Cleanse
Just like the spring, Fall is an excellent time to do a seasonal Ayurvedic cleanse to prepare the body for coming winter. A fall cleanse focuses more on rejuvenating self-care rituals. You will improve your digestion, increase your energy and feel amazing! Read my seasonal cleanse blog for more on the why and how to do a cleanse.
Essential Oil Support
Essential Oils add a bit of flavor to life, and can be used to ease you into seasonal changes. Some of my favorites to help you fall into rhythm during this season are: Following are essential oils that can provide grounding support during the Fall: cardamom, cinnamon, lavender, clary sage, palo santo, vetiver, arborvitae, cedarwood, cypress. If you are interested in high quality essential oils at either retail or wholesale pricing, please contact me at jean@theyogamomma or visit my essential oil page .
Spice It Up
Spices can be used to optimize our digestion – or simply, to leave us feeling cozy and satisfied. My favorites for the fall are: Allspice, anise, asafoetida (hing), basil, bay leaf, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cumin, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, saffron, tumeric. I personally stock my kitchen with Ayurvedic spices that I get from Banyan Botanicals.
The transition into autumn is a time for change outside, and in. As leaves begin to turn and fall, many of us are inspired to try new things – turning over a new and healthier leaf.
Great article.
Thank you for reading!!
Thank you for reading!!!