Fall is Vata Season

          Ether (Space)         +                 Air 

The cool air of fall is brings us into vata season, when we closely experience the elements of air and space.  Vata is dry, light, cold, rough and moving.   Just as a tree loses moisture during this season, and its leaves become dry and brittle, our bodies experience a similar transformation as we transition from summer to fall.  

 Vata is air, space, motion, dry, cold.  Vata governs movement, breathing, motor functions, senses, fear, anxiety.  The shift from Summer into Fall is prime time for Vata conditions to emerge or to become more prominent.  If Vata becomes aggravated, you may experience some of the following:

·  Sloooow down

In general -  eat sweet, sour, salty tastes and avoid bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.
A common, easily digestible food to eat during this seasonal transition is kitchari.  Here is a link to a basic kitchari recipe: 

www.ayurveda.com/online_resource/kitchari_recipe.htm

In addition to attending to your diet, be sure to: 

Keep warm
Keep calm
Opt for gentle, SLOWLY moving exercises
Keep a regular routine
Get plenty of rest

You may want to add some herbs into your routine such as  the common western herb for vata - Ginko Biloba.  Ayurvedic preparations (find at health food store) which include Ashwaghanda are effective, also Triphala.

Commercial vata preparations are available at the health food store... but in general, I feel it's best to rely more upon food and lifestyle approaches until you obtain individual counsel from a respected ayurvedic practitioner.  If you do decide to add ayurvedic prepations to your routine, you may want to check out my favorite online sites:

www.ayurveda.com

www.banyanbotanicals.com

www.trihealthayurveda.com

Ayurvedic Beauty Tip 

To keep your skin soft and supple, massage your skin with sesame oil (or a prepared vata oil) BEFORE you shower AND AFTER you shower.  Do this every day for radiant, youthful, glowing skin.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact me.  

Creamy, Dreamy Salad Smoothie

(we've had beautiful organic heirloom tomatoes available lately, use the most fresh and flavorful you can find) 

(for extra creamy, use the whole avo!!, yummy) 

(use the amount that's best for you) 

 Put the veggies and spices into the blender, add just a few ice cubes (because the vitamix will generate heat and you don't want to cook the veggies, just blend them)  and enough water to make a smooth but not watery drink... perhaps 3/4 cup or so.   Blend until smooth and creamy and enjoy!! 

Variations - Basil, parsley or any unused salad ingredients.   Also, add olive oil, omit the ice for a nice sauce for potatoes or cooked veggies and grains.  

Vastu (or vaastu shastra)  is an ancient science which helps us align with the 5 elements of nature - Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space.  It is a vedic science, thousands of years old, that is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance in India - and is becoming more and more common in the west.  It is similar to Feng Shui in that it teaches us how to live in harmony with the elements of nature and maximize the health and vitality of our chi or prana - our life force.

Why should we know about it?  Just as we are aware of the benefits of a healthy diet, exercise, meditation, etc. for our overall well being; it is important to understand the nature of the elements and how best to optimize our homes and work environments to ensure the highest quality of life.  This includes all aspects of our lives... health, wealth, love and happiness!

Vastu is a huge subject... it's interesting and really fun to learn about.  So each month I'll include a little vastu tidbit.  If you want to dive in and go for it, contact me and I'll give you more resources.   

For this month:  Use a compass (or the compass app on your smartphone) to determine what direction your house is sitting on the earth.  What part of your house is in the north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, northwest?  Use the vastu chart above to look up the element associated with each area of your home.

Shavasana  (corpse pose)