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Welcome, Winter! Ayurvedic Wisdom for the Southern Hemisphere: June to Mid-August

Welcome, Winter! Ayurvedic Wisdom for the Southern Hemisphere: June to Mid-August

Welcome, Winter! Ayurvedic Wisdom for the Southern Hemisphere - June to Mid-August

Understanding Ayurveda according to the seasons can be a confusing journey. Knowing what to do, when and for which dosha can feel overwhelming and frustrating.

Little wonder, as many Ayurvedic resources are written by people who live literally on the other side of the world and who are describing patterns from their own specific perspective and seasonal qualities that apply to a particular region. But what’s the reality where you live?

Are you in Victoria, where it’s always cold and windy, or windy and wet, or in places in New Zealand with constantly changing combinations of qualities?

Maybe you are situated up north, closer to the equator where patterns are more stable, and winter typically means decreased temperatures and increased dryness.

Wherever you live, Ayurveda urges the development a personal relationship with your immediate environment. Get outside into the fresh air and whatever sunlight is available and connect with the elements and qualities of nature around you.

The patterns and qualities of the outside world are always mirrored within our own physiology. Staying connected to nature’s rhythms can assist us to align ourselves with these cycles. We will therefore be empowered to make appropriate diet and lifestyle choices and meet the season well.

Right now, we are in the first part of winter in the southern hemisphere.

The gunas, or qualities associated with winter, here in Australia and New Zealand are: DRY, COLD, WET & HEAVY 

What’s happening right now?

During winter, the decrease in temperature naturally drives Pitta dosha deeper into the body. You may therefore experience an increase in appetite as jathara agni, (digestive fire), is increased.

This makes wintertime perfect to enjoy slightly heavier foods and increase the amount of good fats and protein in our diets as we are generally better able to digest them.

If you have sluggish or otherwise imbalanced digestion, Ayurveda recommends taking the appropriate steps to regulate this as a priority.

During winter, there is an increase in the wet, unctuous, cool and heavy qualities required to help us nourish and build ojas, (the vital essence) as well as the dhatus, (tissues), of the body. Now is the time for steadiness, nourishment, and stillness.

Kapha dosha begins to accumulate, however, it is a natural and positive part of the deep nutrient cycle. Like the trees outside our rasa, (essential essence), is currently circulating deep within our bone marrow and nerves, helping nourish our own ‘roots’ so that our energies can rise from a firm foundation come spring.

Now is not the time to be including overly stimulating, vigorous or heating practices, which may sound counter intuitive. However, it is anything but. When we get closer to the end of August and the arrival of Spring Equinox, it will be time to start mitigating and moving Kapha dosha.

For now, and until about the middle of August, give yourself permission to lean into the nourishing stillness of the season. This first part of winter is about surrendering to this heaviness and trying to avoid excessive activity and externally oriented awareness. Direct your energy internally whenever possible. Especially as we move towards the very heart of the Yin half of the year and Winter Solstice.

What to do right now

Meditate, journal, rest and reflect. Good practices to include in your daily routine are long Yoga Nidras, deep, slow rhythmic pranayama such as Sama Vritti and breath ratios that consist of longer exhalations. Keep asana practice slow and steady favouring styles such as Iyengar, Yin, Slow Flow, or the calm regularity of Ashtanga Vinyasa.

Nourish your skin and nervous system with regular abhyanga, (oil massage), and warm baths. Align with the solar cycle and help keep your circadian rhythms on track by exposing your eyes to sunlight soon after waking each morning and by using low light during the evening. Try to avoid harsh overhead lighting and the blue light from devices, especially after 9pm.

For those of us who practise intermittent fasting or follow a ketogenic diet, Ayurveda reminds us that now is the time to consider taking a break from these practices. The catabolic state created by such observances runs counter to the natural cycles of deep nourishment and tissue building that naturally occur during the Yin half of the year.

Reintroduce intermittent fasting and cleansing diets closer to Spring Equinox when the time will be perfect to start things moving and creating lightness once more.

Eat when you are hungry and keep beverages warm and frequent. Enjoy good quality fats and proteins as well as well cooked, spiced and ‘soupy’ dishes like stews and kitchari. Root vegetables, bone broths and ghee are especially good additions for all doshas during this time of year.

Moving forward

CURIOUS ABOUT HOW WINTER IMPACTS THE INDIVIDUAL DOSHAS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE? 

Join me and fellow Wellbeing Collective contributor Dr Karina Smith THIS MONTH JUNE 26th from 11-1pm for our ‘Conversations on YOGA & ALIGNMENT’ livestream event: 

“TCM & AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVES ON YOGA & LIFESTYLE FOR WINTER”

OR

Join our PHILLIP ISLAND WINTER RETREAT July 15-18 for 4 days and 3 nights of ASHTANGA YOGA, PRANAYAMA & AYURVEDIC EDUCATION!

I look forward to connecting with you and sharing the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda to help us all live in alignment and meet the season well.

I am available for 1:1 Ayurvedic Diet & Lifestyle Consultations in person and via Zoom.

CONNECT WITH ME:

W: www.dominiquesalernoyoga.com

IG: @dominiquesalernoyoga

FB: Dominique Santana Salerno

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