November this year asks us to turn our attention to our own self care. This is the time to connect into what is truest for yourself and your family health. Current tides of change in season, climate, politics and our own humour are pulling on our own health and wellbeing. Bolstering our immune system this November will be our main Ayurvedic priority. Let’s start today.
As Samhain still has a cycle to complete, we can use our yoga practice to connect into our ancestors’ power, be present to our own strength and look into the future where our wisdom will lead us. This is no time to rush. This is a time to listen, to creep slowly along the fallen leaves, lean into the trees’ song, and allow the softening that rest and renewal will bring into your life.
I listen and wait. I understand the answers will come at the time I am ready to hear them.
Jet lag without the fun of travelling
The early days of November can bite hard, with daylight savings adjusting our inner clock. The sudden shorter days give me the feeling of jet lag without the fun of coming home from travelling.
Jet lag displaces our timing, causing Vata to feel reactive and be unreliable. We may be tired or cranky at unexpected times, and we may forget to hydrate, but during changes it is crucial to hydrate and nourish. November really begs us to find and use consistent remedies that are easy, that fit into our lifestyle and encourage you to breathe and be present in this transitional time of year.
A repetitive phrase to help:
Breathe in and repeat “I am”, breathe out and repeat “here”. I am here.
Five practices to settle Vata
November is all about taking time to settle Vata and boost our immune system with simple practices that give a bigger benefit than what we put into them.
1. Warm kindness (Ahimsa)
Our attitude and attention to our mood are vital for November and onward. Yoga and Ayurveda ask us each to bring a warm kindness into every moment. It’s my very simple translation of the heartful ethos of yoga, which is known as Ahimsa.
From today onward, remember kindness will soften every moment, even a moment of harsh frost from the weather or a person. Kindness can help our mood relax into what is here. We often can’t fix things that we find we don’t like, but we can soften our dislike, to allow ourselves to breathe with kindness for any reaction. Take your time. Whatever it is that gives you that jolt of “Oh no! I don’t like it!”, that is a perfect time to pause, breathe in kindness, breathe out with soft-hearted warmth.
November’s coldness jumps straight in and it’s often an unwelcome change. Vata prefers warmth, and that is why a warm-hearted kindness will soothe Vata’s natural desire to be upset by the cooler days.
2. Breathing better
Take time to focus on enhancing your immune system function with balanced breathing. Join me for breathing for immunity.
Learn the three-part yogic breath and breathe to boost your immune system. Sounds simple, is simple, but can take a few practices to get the hang of it. Once it’s understood in the body, it only requires commitment twice a day minimum, for three to four minutes.
Now… practise before you get out of bed in the morning and as you rest down in bed at night. You can increase the amount of time for the Full Yogic Breath after a month, but only by adding another minute or two. Please take note: more practice does not mean it is better for you. This breath engages the correct breathing cycle. It is not a way to breathe outside of the time of practice. The Yogic Breath reconnects the vital importance of your body wisdom into our everyday life.
Watch the Full Yogic Breath tutorial here, then practise along with me. Feel free to ask any questions here or comment on the video.
3. Warm, spiced food
Any change requires our brain and body to adjust quickly. This needs critical attention to hydration, and for November it means warm food at the correct time. It’s important for our nervous system to take our meals at the same time every day, or at least to make it a priority.
In November our meals should always be warm in temperature, and also warmed by spices too! Of course, warmed only to a degree you prefer. Ayurveda feels it is best in the cooler months to spice up whatever recipes you are drawn to, and for Vata at this time of year, cooking the food in one pot. This reduces some of the heavy enzyme function required to digest the seasonal offerings, and the spices also help with digestion too.
There are so many spices to explore, but some that are popular at this time of year are simple spices.
Try this: add a teaspoon or more of fresh chopped ginger root or minced garlic to the pot. Or, before anything goes in the pot, heat some ghee or oil and add equal parts turmeric, cumin and mustard seeds, slightly toasted until the seeds pop. Add your ingredients and stir them in to begin your cooking process.
For the next few weeks, try a different grain, such as brown rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa or barley. You can also add the above spices to the grains at the end of their cooking with a small bit of ghee or your favourite oil.
The spices and oil stabilise Vata by offering warmth and grounding, two attributes that Vata needs every day.
4. A cat nap
A cat nap for Vata can be very helpful. A twenty-minute relaxation or snooze between 3 and 4:30pm is a simple way to reduce stress symptoms, and let Vata let go into a very gentle state of inertia. Vata types are often very light in body, so inertia or gravity settles their system. Vata often sleep much better at night because they took a short snooze in the day.
Kapha should never snooze in the day, and Pitta, listen to your needs on the day: Pitta may need to rest with their eyes closed for ten minutes.
5. Oil on your body before you shower
And last in November, try this at least once and please let me know what you think afterwards. Oil on your body before you shower is a primary Vata stress relief remedy. It can feel indulgent and is one of the best feel-good rituals that you can do for yourself. This is a moisturising ritual that benefits the body and the mind.
To prepare, have all your comfortable clothes ready to put on after your shower.
Gently warm ¼ cup of organic seed oil. You can decant the oil and warm it like you do a baby’s bottle. Ayurveda prefers sesame oil, but olive or coconut is fine. Rub the warmed oil on your body before your bath or shower. No need to rub it in, but cover much of your skin.
No need to rush: it is good for the mind to focus on slowing down for this ritual of self care. As the oil goes on the skin, you are removing the day’s energy and cleansing the skin. Then into the warm water: the heat of the water helps your skin absorb the oil deep into the body. And breathe. Vata and your nervous system will thank you.
Also this month: join my Ayur Yoga sessions on Immunity & Vitality, in person or on Zoom, on Sunday 8 November (Templemore, 11am, and Clarenbridge, 5:30pm) and Sunday 22 November (Clarenbridge, 5:30pm). We will move from breathing to yogic breath, into pranayama, posture work and relaxation. All are welcome. Book direct with me by email or text 086 177 8369.
Would you like to keep exploring Yoga and Ayurveda between classes? My Facebook group, The Dosha Life, is a space to share reflections, ask questions and keep learning together. Come along and be part of the conversation.
Love is an easy rhythm,
Kelly
