MINDFULNESS: Living seasonally helps with maintaining balance

Published 9:59 am Tuesday, October 22, 2024

October really is such a marvelous time. The shift of seasons becomes so apparent with the cooler temperatures and changing leaves. It sends us clear and distinct reminders of the passage of time. And, with the passage of time, we are reminded to connect with the past.

As the end of the year draws close, now is the time to reflect on the past year — what is left from the wish list at the beginning of the year? Have you been successful in eliciting the feelings you were hoping for? Are there activities you can still engage in to bring more of those feelings about? It is also time to reflect on the past in general — the wisdom of the generations and generations of people that came before us. I just recently finished the book Healing Secrets of the Native Americans by Porter Shimer and found it absolutely profound how advanced the knowledge and understanding of the natural world our predecessors were — and to think how often they were portrayed to be somehow lesser.

My journey into yoga began over three decades ago and has had a tremendous impact on my mental and physical well-being as I’ve weathered growth, challenges, loss and change.

While I intend to learn more about the healing and wellness practices of the native people on our own land, for many years I have studied Ayurveda. Ayurveda is considered the sister science to yoga. As someone who has, ever since I can remember, been keenly interested in our

environment and our connection to it, Ayurveda really speaks to me. It is a study of food and habit as medicine grounded in the pursuit of balance. While the practice is somewhat complex, the concept is quite simple.

All living things are made of all the natural elements — earth, air, fire, water and ether — in different and unique combinations, they make up who we are. We are born with an individual blend of elements, a constitution, and the influences of the food we eat, the company we keep, the energy we allow in all effects changes to our constitution over time.

These adjustments cause us to become imbalanced from our true nature and this imbalance can lead to illness.

We understand the individual’s constitution through the concept of Doshas. There are three doshas: Kapha, Pitta and Vata, and each dosha is derived from the elements — Kapha is earth and water, Pitta is earth and fire, and Vata is air and ether. All of us have all three doshas within us, just to varying degrees. Most people find that one dosha is prominent in their constitution.

Many will find that two dosha hold significant weight in their make up and few will find an equal balance of all three doshas. Each dosha is connected to different functions of our bodies, so when one becomes imbalanced, we may find dysfunction in that corresponding part of the body.

For example, on these crisp, breezy fall days, Vata is in strong supply. When we are not mindful of our practices, our own Vata can quickly become imbalanced, which may lead to dry skin and brittle nails, or more seriously anxiety, constipation, dehydration, and serious cough.

Engaging in slow, methodical practices like Hatha yoga or evening walks can help keep our Vata in check, as can eating certain foods and spices (coincidentally the ones in seasons right now) such as sweet potato, pumpkin, sweet apples, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

Living seasonally is one of the best ways to maintain balance. We also need to keep in mind our personal constitution and the day-to-day challenges we face. You will find, over the past several months, my column and future columns have little suggestions here and there for maintaining balance as we move through the seasons. If ever you want to explore Ayurveda or your own constitution in more detail, please reach out.

I would love to know your thoughts on my column. Or if you have topic requests or ideas, please reach out to me at Liz@SoulRebellionYoga.com

—Liz Havey holds 500 hour certified yoga instructor and Ayurvedic nutritional consultant certificates and owns and teaches at Soul Rebellion Yoga. You can learn more about her background and available classes at SoulRebellionYoga.com