Autumn-cleanse is the new ‘Spring-Cleaning’

You are most successful in your practice of yoga when you start it in the Spring or Autumn because these times are most disease-free

• Gheranda Samhita, 5.9

As the days get shorter, animals prepare to migrate or hibernate; trees shed their leaves. Autumn is by nature a depleting season; it is cool, contracting, dry, windy and rough. I is an ideal time to turn inwards and is one of the best times for establishing an more meditative yoga routine. The transitional seasons, autumn and spring, are special times to cleanse and prepare for the next season. They are the most beneficial for implementing a revised, deeper yoga practice. This time of year is especially conducive to pratyahara, meditation, walks in Nature and grounding asanas.

As summer gives way to autumn, many of us find ourselves more prone to allergic reactions, colds, viral infections and flu. In ayurvedic terms, autumn is the season in which vata (air-space) predominates; it is the yearly transition from the pitta (fire) of summer to the kapha (water-earth) of winter.

With the drop in temperature, you’ll probably soon be turning on the heating. This, combined with closed windows, creates ideal conditions for germs, bacteria and viruses. Now is a great time to consider doing a cleanse to protect your well-being for the coming winter months. An autumn cleanse, with emphasis on rejuvenation, can help you to prepare for the cold, dry months to come and help to balance vata within your body.

An Autumn Cleanse:

·                Brings a sense of calm to the mind and nervous system.

·                Fosters physical, mental and emotional clarity and grounding

·                Nurtures an improved sense of energy and vitality.

·                Supports sound sleep.

·                Promotes regular elimination.

·                Helps to re-establish your natural state of balance.

But, cleansing without replenishment can deplete the system and aggravate vata, causing it to go seriously out of balance. This imbalance may manifest as restlessness and anxiety, with constipation, bloating, sleep disturbances and allergies.

A general recommendation is to balance vata with its opposite qualities of warmth deep nourishment, loving relationships, stability, regular routine and staying grounded. 

A vata-balancing diet focuses on

-       dairy or sesame oil and creamy foods

-       sweet, sour, and salty tastes

-       nuts and seeds (such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame) in moderation

-       warming spices: black pepper, ginger, garam masala, turmeric etc.

-       smaller legumes, such as moong. Avoid kidney and other large beans, as well as cabbage, as they produce vata, i.e., gas

-        seasonal vegetables like squashes, pumpkin and root vegetables.

-       Eat a minimum of raw foods, and stay away from cold, frozen, dry, bitter, pungent and astringent tastes

I invite you to join me for a series of workshops that look at yoga-kriyas as the ultimate autumn-cleanse for your body and mind. Read more…