Why do we naturally gravitate towards the warmer spices and flavors during the cold fall months? From an Ayurvedic perspective, there is a natural phenomenon that is pulling us towards the spices and heavier foods as the body's natural way of harmonizing and balancing ourselves out based on what is happening outside. Vata is on the rise, and it's time to bring it into balance. 

My teacher Dr. Lad always says--whatever is outside, is inside--and we don't necessarily take this with a grain of salt. Whether its the weather patterns, the sun, the change of the season, the general energy of what is happening--all of these in some way manifest within us as well on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Everything in existence is made up of the 5 elements--ether, air, fire, water, and earth. And because of that everything has some combination and permutation of vata, pitta, and kapha. So, with this same logic, everything that happens out in our surroundings and environments is essentially a play of vata, pitta, and kapha. 

In the Autumn months as the temperatures begin to drop and the wind picks up, we begin to see predominantly the qualities of ether and air begin to rise--cold, rough, dry, mobile. It is officially vata-season. This is why we experience things like dry hair or our digestion becomes a little irregular, or when we say "I feel the cold in my bones"--well ether and air qualities are going to impact the spaces and holes within us. So it makes sense that we feel these things. 

I guess we can technically say that we're literally in the depths of the summer! It's hot, muggy, the sun is out, and truthfully I wouldn't want it any other way. I am so meant to always be in a balmy 85 degrees. But nonetheless, that doesn't mean I don't learn to live seasonally, which is what Ayurveda is attempting to teach us every day! Anywho... 

I wanted to chat a little about healthy exercise and what Ayurveda has to say about activity and moving your body. It's super easy for us to get into this mode "beach body", but what does Ayurveda really have to say about exercise in the summertime? 

Here's to the longest night of the year. Hello to the winter solstice. There are a million traditions around the world that symbolize the mark of the winter and the shortest day of the year. I'd like to share what this day means for me, and a few practices you can do over the next few days/weeks to harness this powerful energy.