It seems at the beginning of each new season I know at least three people who get sick. For those of us who can’t afford to take time off when our bodies start to drag, here’s some wisdom from Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. Robert Svoboda on ways to make the seasonal transition a bit smoother. Check out his book Ayurveda for Women.

“Ayurveda tells us that diseases are generated at the junctions of the seasons, the moments when one season changes into another. Whenever our environment (internal or external) changes, our systems must change with it, and every time we adapt poorly we expose ourselves to the possibility of disease….One of the strongest determinants of intensity, both in the thing that affects you and the degree to which you are affected by it, will be the season in which it occurs…. Plants and animals, which have no conscious time sense, have Nature to keep them “in sync” with the seasons…. Ayurveda recognizes four main “seasonal” cycles that apply to men and women alike. Establishing a rhythm in each of these cycles is essential to continued physical health, for it helps you to flow in the direction that is most appropriate for you”.

 ”Vata which waxes during the summer, climaxes in the autumn…”  therefore Autumn is the season in which people should be reducing Vata in their system.

Signs of Vata Imbalance courtesy of www.holisticonline.com/ayurveda:

It’s important to create or stick to a routine in times of imbalance. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same times every day.

Also schedule your workouts and meals for the sames times every day, if possible. This creates a consistent rhythm that the body and mind respond well to, especially in times of change. The Vatas find it very difficult to maintain regular habits, that is, to eat and sleep at regular times. But this is the most important thing for them to do. When Vata is out of balance this may feel almost impossible, but an effort to establish a regular routine is very important for all people with a Vata body type. Rest sufficiently, and choose foods, behaviors, personal relationships, and environmental circumstances which can be instrumental in balancing vata characteristics. It is also important to regulate mental and physical impulses and to modify mental attitudes, emotional states, and behaviors in supportive ways.

Sweet, sour, and salty tastes decrease vata influences, so include these tastes if vata influences need to be diminished. Milk, wheat, rice, and some fruits and berries can provide sweet and sour tastes.

Regular exercise should be relaxed and moderate. Hatha yoga practice in a meditative mood is good, as are t’ai chi, walking, and swimming. Avoid strenuous, competitive, frantic activities.

When possible, associate with people who are calmly purposeful. Meditate every day for deep relaxation.

With these tips, hopefully we can all avoid the seasonal cold or flu and maintain balance.

For more information on these and other ways to balance your dosha, check out www.holisticonline.com/ayurveda.