Fall Into Heathly Routines

   Depending on where you are in the country, fall is well underway. With the cooling temperatures, comes a sense of change and newness. Fall is a time of transformation, the temperature drops and the leaves start to turn color, before ascending to the ground below. With this seasonal shift, however, it is important to remain grounded to ensure you get the most out of this time of change.

   Ayurveda is the ancient "science of life" that defines and separates people into three main categories, called doshas. The dosha most prevalent in the fall is vata. This dosha corresponds with the elements air and space, and is associated with the nervous system. Therefore, if a vata imbalance is to occur, it can greatly affect your mental state - that is why it is so important to stay grounded! Here are a few ways to help keep your vata balanced this season:

Yoga

   Yoga is recommended for each type of dosha, but especially when a vata balance is at stake. During this season, you want to choose asanas that focus on the lungs and large intestine. Also, you'll want to keep a routine and try to do yoga for the same amount of time (at the same time) each day. A few poses that are very beneficial this season are: Twists (twisted sage pose), Side Stretches (head-to-knee forward bend), Backbends (camel pose), Warrior poses, and Sun Salutations (to keep your body warm)!

Diet

   During the fall, you want to focus on warming foods to keep vata balanced. Hot teas and warm soups are extremely beneficial during these cooling months. Avoid raw, uncooked food as it has a tendency to cause vata imbalance. Eat foods that are warm, moist, and cooked in oil, butter, or ghee. Eating root vegetables helps to ground and connects you to the earth, so focus on these in your stews and soups. Keep in mind that salty, sweet, and sour tastes are calming to vata, so plan your meals accordingly.

Lifestyle

   Routines are always helpful, but more so when vata is present. You'll want to keep strict on your waking and sleeping schedules, aim to be in bed before midnight if you can. It is recommended you be asleep by 10pm, which some might be able to do but with most people's work/life schedules I think it's a bit unlikely these days. Regardless, you want to make sure you get the minimum 6 hours of sleep to ensure proper rest. Aim to meditate for at least 10 minutes upon waking and just before going to sleep. I like to YouTube guided meditations like this one. During the colder months, you want to use body oils to keep the skin moist and supple. This also reduces the vata emotions of anxiety, depression, fear, and nervousness.

   These are just a few of the beneficial practices you can use to keep yourself grounded and balanced this season.  I hope you have learned something new and encourage you to look further into Ayurvedic living. Think warm, happy thoughts and have a wonderful fall day! :)
   
   

Terrific and Talented Turmeric!

   Turmeric is an ancient Indian spice with uses dating back to 2500 years ago. It was believed to be first utilized for it's dying properties and then later was incorporated as a spice and also used for cosmetic purposes. In many Indian cultures, turmeric was used as a substitute for the much more expensive saffron, due to it's amazingly similar deep yellow color. Today, turmeric still has many valuable qualities and benefits.

   As stated above, turmeric has a bright yellow color that is gorgeous when used as a natural dye for cloth. All you have to do is add a few shakes of dried turmeric to some hot water and let the item sit for a few hours. For deeper color, you can rinse, dry, and re-dye the cloth. I added a cap full of vinegar to my turmeric bath as well to help the color stick. The color will fade over time, especially when exposed to the sunlight, but you can always re-dye it to suit your liking. It's much better than using commercial dyes that contain questionable chemicals, in my own opinion. :)
   Turmeric also has many medicinal purposes. It is known for it's anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial purposes. This makes it great at combating acne, psoriasis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. I like to mix a little turmeric with some honey and avocado for a hydrating, acne-fighting face mask! Turmeric is a natural pain killer and can help detoxify your liver. It is used to help aid weight management and even helps fat metabolize! It is useful in disinfecting cuts and burns, and also helps to heal and remodel damaged skin. There is even great promise in using turmeric to help prevent and treat cancer!
   How do you obtain these benefits? Some people take supplements of turmeric but that's not always necessary. It could be as easy as sprinkling some turmeric into an egg salad or incorporating it into a traditional Indian curry. You can also make a tea using the root itself or a powdered form. A popular way to drink turmeric in India is making a warm turmeric milk. To make this you add 2 cups organic milk (dairy or non-dairy), 1 tsp. turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp. ginger powder, 4 crushed black peppercorns, a dash of cinnamon, and a dollop of honey or other sweetener (if you chose). It is a delicious and warming "health drink" that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic practices.
   As you can see, there are many uses and benefits of this miracle root. If you've never tried it before, I definitely suggest giving it a shot in any of the above ways! Have fun and stay clean for now!