COLD & WINDY
Late fall and winter are known in ayurveda as “Vata season” because they have the same qualities that characterize Vata: cold, dry, light, clear, and moving.
If these qualities are in balance in a person they will stay healthy, creative, and exuberant. But when too much of these qualities accumulate in the body or mind, the imbalance manifests as physical or emotional disorders, including insomnia, dry skin, arthritis, constipation, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
Here are some practical ideas to keep you grounded and vibrant during the cold months ahead:
Eat foods that are warming, fresh, and well cooked; avoid dry or uncooked foods (especially salads and raw fruits and vegetables).
Drink lots of warming liquids, like fresh ginger tea, by placing a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger into a pint thermos bottle and filling it with hot water.
Eat more of the sweet, sour, and salty tastes. Avocados, bananas, mangoes, peaches, lemons, pumpkins, carrots, beets, asparagus, quinoa, rice, mung beans, almonds, sesame seeds (tahini), and unsalted butter are excellent. Don’t worry if your appetite seems stronger than usual as this is a natural tendency in winter. At the same time, of course, don’t eat to the point of discomfort.
Nourish Your Senses. Wear clothing made with soft fabrics in earth tones and mild pastel shades, which calm.
Stay warm. It’s important to make sure that your home and work place are well heated and that the air has enough humidity. Avoid drafts or sitting near fans or ventilators.
Give yourself slow, gentle self-massage in the morning or before bed. Use a nourishing, warming oil such as sesame or almond. Gently rub a drop of sesame oil inside your nasal passages, which tend to become dry during winter.
Get enough sleep! This is vital! And do not push yourselves to the point of physical or mental exhaustion.
Learn to meditate. For the overactive minds, meditation is one of the best ways to find calm and stillness.
Nicos Pavlides
Ayurvedic Consultant
