Every year around this time, I notice it in the studio. People come in a little more scattered. Skin is drier. Sleep is lighter. Minds are busier. Someone always says, “I don’t know what it is, I just feel off.”
In Ayurveda, there’s a name for what’s happening. Fall is Vata season.
The good news is that the traditional answer is simple, cozy and honestly pretty enjoyable. Warmth, oil, routine and rest. Here’s how to bring that into your days this fall.
What is Vata?
Ayurveda describes three doshas, or patterns of energy, that show up in nature and in each of us: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata is made of the elements air and space. Its qualities are cool, dry, light, rough and always moving.
Now think about fall. The air turns cool and dry. The wind picks up. Leaves are light and blowing everywhere. The schedule gets busier after summer. Everything is in motion.
Ayurveda teaches that like increases like. So when the season has a lot of Vata qualities, the Vata in us tends to rise too. Traditionally, that can show up as:
- Dry skin, lips or hair
- Feeling cold, especially hands and feet
- Restlessness, worry or a racing mind
- Lighter or interrupted sleep
- Irregular appetite or digestion
- Feeling ungrounded or spread thin
The approach is to balance those qualities with their opposites: warm instead of cold, oily instead of dry, heavy and grounding instead of light, and steady instead of scattered.
1. Eat warm, cooked, grounding foods
This is the easiest place to start. Swap cold salads and smoothies for warm, cooked, slightly oily meals. Think soups, stews, roasted root vegetables, oatmeal, rice and dal.
Favor naturally sweet, sour and salty tastes, and warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom. Eat at regular times, and try to sit down for meals rather than eating on the run.
One of my favorite Vata-season meals is kitchari, a simple rice and lentil dish that’s a staple of Ayurvedic home cooking. Our Kitchari Spice Mix makes it easy. Cook it with a spoonful of organic cultured ghee for extra warmth and richness.
A simple kitchari: Rinse about half a cup of split mung dal and half a cup of basmati rice. Warm a spoonful of ghee in a pot, stir in a spoonful of kitchari spices, then add the rice, dal and about four to five cups of water. Simmer until soft and porridge-like, 30 to 40 minutes, adding water as needed. Add chopped vegetables like carrot, squash or sweet potato partway through. Salt to taste.
2. Warm oil massage (abhyanga)
If I could pick only one Vata-season practice, it would be this one. Abhyanga is the traditional Ayurvedic practice of self-massage with warm oil. It’s the direct opposite of dry and cold, and many people find it deeply calming.
How to do it:
- Warm a few tablespoons of oil by setting the bottle in a mug of hot water for a few minutes. Test it on your wrist first.
- In a warm room, massage the oil into your skin, starting at the scalp or feet. Use long strokes on the arms and legs and circles on the joints and belly.
- Take your time. Five to fifteen minutes is lovely.
- Let it soak in for a bit, then take a warm shower. Use soap only where you need it.
Traditionally, sesame oil is the go-to for Vata. Our Ashwagandha Bala Oil is an herbal oil made by infusing ashwagandha and bala in a carrier oil, traditionally sesame, and is traditionally used for relaxation, grounding and nourished skin.
A few cautions: be careful on the shower floor, since it gets slippery. Skip the oil on broken or irritated skin, and patch test first if you have sensitive skin.
3. Keep a steady rhythm
Vata loves to be all over the place. Routine is its best friend. You don’t need a perfect schedule, just a few anchors:
- Wake up and go to bed around the same time every day.
- Eat meals at regular times. Try not to skip.
- Start the morning slowly. A glass of warm water, a few minutes of stillness, then the day.
- Wind down in the evening. Dim the lights, put the phone away, and give your nervous system a chance to settle.
4. Sip warming teas
Warm drinks throughout the day are one of the simplest ways to bring in warmth. A few favorites from our apothecary:
- Organic Ginger Root: simmer a teaspoon in water for 10 to 15 minutes. Spicy and warming, traditionally used to support healthy digestion.
- Organic CCF Tea: equal parts cumin, coriander and fennel, one of Ayurveda’s most beloved digestive teas. Lovely after meals.
- Organic Tulsi, Krishna variety: the most peppery and warming of the holy basils, traditionally used for resilience to everyday stress and calm focus.
- Organic Rooibos Chai: caffeine-free rooibos with classic chai spices. Simmer it with milk for a cozy evening latte.
You’ll find all of these and more in our Herbs, Oils and Teas collection.
5. Move slowly, rest deeply
Vata season isn’t the time to push harder. Choose slower, grounding practices: gentle flow, yin, restorative yoga, long holds, and plenty of time in forward folds and on the floor. Walks outside are wonderful, but bundle up against the wind.
And rest. A few minutes of legs up the wall or a guided yoga nidra before bed can make a big difference. If you want to practice from home, our on-demand library has restorative classes and seasonal Ayurveda workshops.
6. Stay warm and covered
This one sounds almost too simple, but it matters. Wear layers. Keep your neck, ears and feet warm. Wear socks around the house. Cover your head on windy days.
A quick note on safety
Ayurveda is a traditional wellness system, not medical care, and nothing here is meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Herbs can interact with medications and aren’t right for everyone. If you’re pregnant, nursing, managing a health condition or taking medication, please check with your doctor before adding new herbs or supplements.
Want a plan made just for you?
The ideas above are general. Your body, your constitution and your life are specific. That’s where a consultation comes in.
In an Ayurvedic consultation at our Rockville Centre studio, we take time to understand your constitution, digestion, energy, sleep and daily patterns, and then create a plan for you. It can include nutrition and lifestyle guidance, herbal recommendations and daily routines. The initial consultation is 60 minutes, and follow-up sessions are available for ongoing support.
We also offer traditional Ayurvedic bodywork, including warm oil rituals like abhyanga and shirodhara, which feel especially good this time of year.
Or stock up on warming herbs and oils in our Herbs, Oils and Teas collection.
