Ayurveda’s Invitation for Vata Season

As the days shorten and it gets chillier, nature moves into what Ayurveda calls “Vata season” and is associated with air. In the Northern Hemisphere, it usually runs from late fall into early winter. 

In Ayurveda, *like increases like.* The wind and coolness of the season amplifies the same energies in our bodies and minds. This season can bring incredible creativity and clarity when you’re balanced. But it can also spin you out when you’re not.

Ayurveda invites us to live in harmony with the seasons instead of resisting them. During Vata season, the medicine is *opposite in quality* to what’s happening outside: warm, oily, slow, and stable.

Try these simple shifts to bring your body and mind back into balance:

1. Slow down your mornings

Wake with the sun if you can. Begin the day with warmth, e.g. hot water with lemon, a few deep breaths, meditation or gentle movement before any tasks.

2. Eat grounding, warm foods

Soups, stews, roasted root vegetables, and cooked grains. Avoid cold salads, crackers, and anything that feels “dry” or “airy.”

3. Include oil, inside and out

Add butter or ghee to meals and self-massage with oil after you shower to soothe your nervous system and hydrate dry skin.

4. Maintain a rhythm

Eat at regular times, go to bed early, and create predictability where you can. Structure signals safety to the body.

5. Rest

Choose restoration over intensity. Naps, cozy evenings, yin yoga, tai chi, and slow walks help replenish rather than drain your energy.

6. Warm your senses

Aromas like cardamom, cinnamon, and sandalwood ground to the subtle body.

This is about remembering what steadiness feels like in your body. Wrap yourself in warmth, eat what comforts, move with intention, and rest when you can. 🍁🍂🕯️