vata season

holy goddess, it's gorgeous in new york this time of year! the air is fresh (ish), the sky a deeper blue, and the leaves shimmering in the wind make the afternoon light so golden it practically sparkles. i hope you're able to take some extra walks and (maybe) look up from your phone long enough to take in the glory that is autumn up here in the big apple. 

with the new season comes changes in the body as well. i've written before about preparing your body/mind for seasonal shifts, and while i'm far from an expert (not even qualified to advise you, really) i thought i'd share a little about what i do to stay even keel when vata season breezes in the weirdness.

as you likely already know, i have an affinity for studying ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine and love to share with you the insights i've gleaned from my books and midnight internet rabbitholes.

you should also know that i am in no way qualified to advise you on such subjects and am merely sharing anecdotal tidbits which you can take or leave as suits your unique constitution. you are the expert on yourself, and while i might be an amazing teacher of pilates and barre, this doesn't make me (or others like me) an expert in nutrition, health or “wellness.” 

speaking of, is anyone else also totally over “the wellness industry?” like, enough already - what does this word even mean? because from here it looks mostly like annoyingly hot people selling mantras and mushroom powders on the internet and underqualified chiropractors hawking freaking ketamine - but that's a soapbox for another day.

for now, here's some bits and pieces for you about what's happening in these early autumn weeks.

vata dosha in ayurveda has the qualities of lightness, dryness, roughness and movement; and fall is the season of vata. it makes sense. there's less humidity, more breezes, the leaves fall off the trees and dry up and crinkle, and we feel these changes in our bodies as well. i've been hearing from my clients (and also complaining myself) about:

   - dealing with drier skin than usual (or oily, or somehow dry and oily at        the same time)

   - digestive disruptions

   - hormone/cycle drama

   - extra anxiety or racing thoughts

   - trouble sleeping

don't fret. if i've learned anything in the past decade, it's not to catastrophize symptoms like these and drive myself crazy overhauling my diet and buying supplements and redoing my entire approach to life. no matter how much we construct and control our world, we are still children of nature and it's normal to be affected by natural things (seasons, the full moon, weather). 

while the changes aren't permanent, it is more comfortable to support ourselves and there's plenty of simple practices to do to mitigate the symptoms above. here's a quick list of some of my favorites: 

   - add warmth and moisture to your life. chill on the salads and iced coffee and eat cooked vegetable things - roasted squash, gumbo, and braised leeks have all been on my menu this week. another nice moistening treat is goji berries soaked in water or tea, drink the liquid, then eat the berries. they're fun and good for you (just ask the internet). i like mine in a blood orange spindrift.

   - reduce drying foods, like pretty much any snack (crackers, pretzels, popcorn etc.) especially steer clear of them later in the day. 

   - eat breakfast, preferably a warm one. look y'all, i was a habitual breakfast skipper for literally decades and i start teaching at zero dark thirty all the time and have to feed two children - and now a lizard, who only eats LIVE WORMS - every day before i can even finish my coffee but seriously, breakfast is self-care that will last you all day. it fuels the metabolism, gets the digestion fire stoked, and a good one will help keep blood sugar (and thus, everything else) steady. i've been making frittata/quiche adjacent things with eggs, veggies, cheese and a few thinly sliced potatoes that are quick to reheat and eat in 4 bites while doing something else.

   - give yourself permission, occasionally, to think less. anxiety is a feeling in the body that most often comes from thoughts. anxiety causes stress, which causes a bunch of annoying crap in the body, but thoughts are just thoughts - ephemeral sentences to which you don't owe anything. sure, sometimes i can't turn off my thoughts, but i try to practice when i can. i watch funny tv, or go for a run, or listen to an audiobook and clean my floors. not the most glamorous activity, but it helps with general peacefulness. i read something by a monk (tibetan, most likely) which went something like, “when you can't focus, meditate. and when you can't meditate, sweep.” i can attest.

   - finally, rest is best. i don't remember the last time i laid down, slept 8 hours uninterrupted to wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but i do live by a particular adage i learned from a coffee mug that belonged to my dance teacher that read “i have so much to do that i am going to bed.” 

and with that, my friends, i leave you for now. enjoy your weekend!