Transition to fall with ease.
I’m sitting on my back deck this morning, wearing layers, drinking a warm cup of tea and breathing in what feels like the most crisp, fresh air we’ve had in forever (OK, maybe that’s hyperbole, but it’s been a L O N G time since the air has felt this fresh and light). This summer has been brutal - air temperature, heat index, humidity, and dew point have all been a 10 on the discomfort scale this year (and scientists predict that over the next 30 years our area will be in what is called the Extreme Heat Belt — I’m breaking out in a sweat just thinking about it).
As a pitta my whole system breathes a sigh of relief when those first cool breezes of fall blow in. My nervous system lets down a little, and the light quality of vata takes over as if a weight has just been blown off of my shoulders by that cool breeze. But, I know this weather won’t last. Mother Nature takes her time, and the transition from summer to fall is slow and gradual, and full of irregularity. One day it’s crisp and cool and you need to pull your sweaters out of storage. The next, you’re pulling out your tank tops and bumping the AC down a few degrees.
In āyurveda this liminal space between seasons is called the ṛtu sandhi. Ṛtu is the Sanskrit word for season, and sandhi means connection or union, so the ṛtu sandhi is the connection or junction between two seasons. Traditionally, in āyurveda, the ṛtu sandhi is considered the two week period around the start of the new season (one week before and one week after). In nature, seasons don’t have specific start dates, so the seasonal juncture can be difficult to determine by date. Instead, we look for signs that the seasons are shifting - this morning’s cool air, the tree on my block that is changing it’s colors, the fading summer blooms - these are all visible/tangible signs that the seasons are changing. More subtly, there’s an internal shift as well. Our sleep patterns might change, we may crave different foods, we might notice changes in our digestion, and subtle shifts in mood and temperament may be noticeable. And because these changes occur gradually and subtly I begin to observe the practices associated with the changing seasons as soon as I notice the first signs of change, so I can take my time easing into the new season the same way Mother Nature does.
Āyurveda treats all seasonal transitions as important, but this transition from summer to fall is viewed as one of the most important in terms of our preparations. Each season in āyurveda is associated with the qualities of one of the 3 dosha — summer has pitta’s hot, sharp, and fiery qualities, winter and spring have kapha’s heavy, wet, and slow qualities, and fall has vata’s cool, mobile, and dry qualities. In addition to fall presenting vata qualities, any time we experience change the energies of vata are elevated. This means, the change from summer to fall gives us a double dose of vata type qualities to deal with. And, unfortunately, vata’s qualities can be some of the most depleting qualities for us.
As we face this double dose of vata it’s important that we take care to manage the qualities of vata, lest they accumulate and throw us off balance. Follow the tips below as you start your slow transition to fall:
Develop and stick to a regular routine. The summer months are often carefree, and any routines we have often get lost during this season. Regular routines are one of the best ways to bring stability for both the body and the mind as we transition to vata season.
Don’t skip your practice. Regular yoga āsana, meditation, and prānāyāma practice are essential for managing the light, mobile, and rough qualities of vata. Vata is closely related to the movement of prāna (vital energy) in the body, and yoga practices are some of the best energy management tools we have.
Slow down. Don’t try to keep up your fast, busy summer pace. The qualities of vata are depleting, and can zap our energy (and our reserves) quickly. Manage your daily to-do list well, and don’t overextend yourself. Take time to rest and relax, and intentionally move more slowly through your days.
Enjoy these waning days of summer, looking ahead to the harvest. As summer comes to an end grab your journal and consider the fruits of your own harvest this season. We are now 1/3 of the way through this year. What blessings do you have to celebrate this harvest?
Want to learn more about āyurveda? Sign up for my Āyurvedic Yoga for Fall on-line course (available October 1) or join me for my annual Āyurvedic Fall Cleanse.