Stay Grounded This Fall with Ayurveda
Autumn Carries Vata Dosha
You can feel fall slowly creeping into Colorado. The days grow shorter, the air turns crisp and restless with wind, and the mountains glow with aspen leaves blazing in shades of gold and amber. It’s an enchanting season to wander the forests, to lie beneath an aspen grove and watch the leaves dance and sing with the breeze. They drift down like snowflakes, and in their descent stir a deep inspiration—a reminder of the wonder of life and the endless rhythm of creation.
As the trees shed their leaves and the winds grow cooler, autumn brings a season of transition. For many, this change feels invigorating—a time of new beginnings and fresh air. For others it may cause difficult emotions due to the decreased access to sunlight and elemental forces carried with the season.
Ayurveda reminds us that fall is also the season when Vata dosha naturally increases. If we don’t take care to ground ourselves, the shifting elements of wind, dryness, and cold can leave us feeling scattered, depleted, or unwell.
Understanding Vata Dosha
In Ayurveda, the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—govern the functions of the body and mind. Each dosha is made up of two of the five elements:
Vata = Air + Ether
Pitta = Fire + Water
Kapha = Earth + Water
Vata is the principle of movement. It governs circulation, respiration, elimination, nerve impulses, and communication within the body. In the mind, Vata is linked with creativity, inspiration, and quickness of thought.
The qualities (guṇas) of Vata are: dry, light, cold, mobile, subtle, rough, and irregular.
When balanced, Vata brings energy, joy, clarity, and adaptability. When aggravated, it can cause instability and depletion—like a windstorm disrupting the calmness of a lake.
Why Vata Rises in Autumn
Ayurveda teaches that the qualities of the environment influence the qualities of our bodies. Fall and early winter mirror the qualities of Vata:
Dry winds and low humidity dry out skin, hair, lips, tissues and stools.
Cold temperatures weaken digestion and circulation.
Light and mobile qualities manifest in variable weather and unpredictable routines.
Irregular patterns of daylight (shorter days, longer nights) mirror Vata’s tendency toward inconsistency.
This is why Ayurveda emphasizes ṛtu sandhi—the transition between seasons—as a crucial time to reset. The body becomes more vulnerable when doshas shift, and preventive care helps us stay balanced.
Signs of Vata Imbalance
You may be experiencing excess Vata if you notice:
Physical symptoms
Dry skin, cracked lips, brittle nails, or dandruff
Cold hands and feet, sensitivity to wind
Gas, bloating, constipation, or variable appetite
Irregular sleep, insomnia, or waking between 2–4 AM
Fatigue, especially in the afternoon
Mental & emotional symptoms
Restlessness or inability to relax
Racing thoughts, worry, or anxiety
Feeling “ungrounded,” scattered, or forgetful
Difficulty focusing or completing tasks
Heightened sensitivity to stimulation
Unchecked, excess Vata can weaken ojas (vital energy), leaving immunity compromised during cold and flu season.
10 Ayurvedic Ways to Stay Grounded This Fall
Ayurveda reminds us of a fundamental principle,
Like Increases Like and Opposites Bring Balance
The key to pacifying Vata is to invite in the opposite qualities: warmth, stability, heaviness, oiliness, and consistency.
Here are ten practical ways to do that:
1. Favor Warm, Nourishing Foods
Cooked meals are your best medicine in fall. Think soups, stews, kitchari, and roasted root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets. Avoid cold, raw, and dry foods (like crackers, salads, or smoothies), which aggravate Vata. Spice your foods with warming spices that also support digestion like, cumin, mustard seeds, fenugreek, hingvastak, black pepper, fresh ginger, turmeric, oregano, thyme and rosemary. If you tend toward heat and acidity with digestion then balance out your herbs with fennel, coriander, cilantro, mint, parsley and basil.
2. Embrace Healthy Fats
Add ghee, sesame oil, olive oil, or avocado to your meals. Oils lubricate tissues, soothe dryness, and provide grounding heaviness to counterbalance Vata’s lightness. Healthy oils can support the dry qualities of constipation.
3. Sip Warming Herbal Teas
Teas made with fresh ginger, cinnamon, fennel, licorice, or tulsi warm the body, support digestion, and calm the nervous system. Drink throughout the day instead of iced beverages.
My Tibetan Medicine Doctor recommends drinking warm beverages every 2 hours and if you must have something cold then drink something warm first.
4. Keep a Regular Routine
Routine (dinacharya) is medicine for Vata. Eat at the same times each day, keep a consistent bedtime, and anchor yourself in predictable daily rhythms. Regularity reassures the nervous system and supports the irregularity that arise with digestion.
5. Practice Abhyanga (Self-Oil Massage)
A daily warm oil massage with sesame or ashwagandha oil is one of Ayurveda’s most effective remedies for Vata. It calms the nerves, softens the skin, supports digestion, improves sleep, and strengthens immunity.
Check out my article, Snehana & Svedana (Oil & Sweat)
6. Stay Cozy & Protected from Wind
Vata is easily disturbed by cold and drafts. Dress in layers, cover your ears and neck outdoors, and favor warm baths over cold showers. Keep your living space warm, soft, and inviting. I always wear a hat like a beanie during vata season to contain my energy and protect myself from the cold wind.
7. Choose Grounding Movement
Swap intense or erratic exercise for steady, grounding practices. Gentle yoga, restorative postures, yin yoga, tai chi, and long walks in nature are ideal. Make sure to wear layers and avoid too much exposure to cold wind. Focus on extending your exhalation and moving slowly.
In the Prana Vinyasa community we like to offer Earth Elemental practices this time of year. This means slow, low to the ground movements that incorporate forward folds, hip openers, long pauses, and simple sequences.
8. Simplify & Slow Down
Overwhelm is a major trigger for Vata imbalance. Prioritize what matters most, say no when needed, and give yourself extra space between commitments. Silence, rest, and stillness are part of healing.
I love the practice of walking slowly when I have to be in a crowded space like a grocery store or airport. Instead of rushing, listen to your breath, feel your feet connect with the earth and take your time with everything. Slow down when you close doors, slow down when you get ready in the morning, slow down when you talk, slow down when you clean, apply this to all aspects of life.
Check out my article, Slow Down to Heal
9. Stay Hydrated the Vata Way
Drink plenty of warm water or teas. Adding lemon, a pinch of mineral salt, and a drizzle of honey helps the body absorb hydration. Avoid carbonated drinks, which aggravate Vata’s gaseous quality.
10. Nourish Your Mind & Spirit
Evenings are sacred for grounding. Journaling, meditation, guided relaxation (yoga nidra), and quiet reflection prepare the mind for restful sleep. Reduce screen time at night and create a soothing bedtime ritual.
Putting It All Together
When we align our lifestyle with the rhythms of nature, we protect against seasonal imbalance. Pacifying Vata in autumn isn’t about rigid rules—it’s about cultivating warmth, steadiness, and nourishment.
By honoring your daily rhythms, feeding yourself grounding foods, and practicing self-care rituals, you create a sense of rootedness that carries you into winter with resilience.
This fall, notice the winds of change—and then root yourself more deeply. Let Ayurveda guide you into the season with balance, calm, and clarity.
Author, Zaidy Charrón