Root Down & Rise Up: A Guide to FALL Wellness
As summer yields to fall and the vibrant energy of long days gives way to cooler breezes and crisper mornings, September arrives as a sacred threshold. In Ayurveda, this seasonal shift marks the beginning of Vata season—a time governed by the elements of air and ether, bringing lightness, dryness, mobility, and subtlety. It’s the season of wind, change, and introspection. To stay balanced, we are called to slow down, ground ourselves, and nurture connection—within and without.
🌿 Ayurvedic Insights for Fall
According to Ayurveda, Vata dosha can easily go out of balance in autumn, leading to symptoms like anxiety, dry skin, restlessness, and irregular digestion. Seasonal routines help align us with nature’s rhythm:
- Favor warm, cooked foods**: Think soups, stews, roasted root vegetables, and herbal teas with ginger, cinnamon, or fennel.
- Create regularity**: Vata thrives on consistency. Wake, eat, and rest at the same time each day.
- Oil up**: Self-massage (abhyanga) with warm sesame or almond oil soothes the nervous system and calms the mind.
- Wrap in warmth**: Protect yourself from wind and cold with scarves, socks, and cozy layers.
🧘🏽♀️ Yoga Practice for Grounding & Nourishment
September invites us to “root down” before the full winds of autumn pick up. Your yoga mat becomes a sacred space to practice stability and stillness.
Asana:
Build a Grounded Foundation. Practice longer pauses in the poses, engage in slower transitions, and focus on exhalation to bring the body and mind inward. Choose postures that emphasize grounding, strength, and balance:
- Tadasana (Mountain Pose)** – find your steady center.
- Virabhadrasana I & II (Warrior Poses)** – root through the legs to activate inner strength.
- Malasana (Garland Pose)** – deep squat to connect with the earth.
- Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose)** – a nurturing pose for deep rest.
Pranayama:
Breathe to Center the Mind. Vata tends to disturb the mind with too much movement. Pranayama can restore clarity and calm. Keep breath slow, steady, and silent; finishing with several minutes of stillness.
- Nadi Shodhana (aka Alternate Nostril Breathing) to balance the nervous system.
- Bhramari (aka Bumble Bee Breath) to soothe anxiety and mental noise.
Meditation:
Cultivating Inner Stillness. As the outer world becomes more erratic, your inner sanctuary becomes vital. Meditate at the same time each day, preferably morning or evening. Consider using grounding imagery with nature (e.g., roots, earth, mountain) or Metta (loving kindness) meditation to nuture your relationship with self and others from a foundtion of compassion.
💜 Self-Care as Sacred Practice
September invites us to turn inward, to slow our pace, and care for ourselves in meaningful ways. As we prepare for Winter, and shorter days, these final days of Summer into Fall remind us to embrace gentle transitions.
- Journal about what you’re ready to release and what you want to make room for and invite in this season.
- Create sacred pauses: 5 minutes to breathe, stretch, or be in nature. Consider creating a daily sadhna (spiritual practice) or join us in the studio (or online) for our 30-day Fall Challenge
- Prioritize sleep, hydration, and time offline.
Remember, self-care is not selfish—it is sacred. When we are well-resourced, we show up more fully for others.
🤝 Cultivating Connection in Community
The season may invite solitude, but not isolation. We are stronger when we remember we belong to one another. As we anchor ourselves individually, let’s not forget the importance of sangha—our spiritual community. Join us for a Circle, Training or workshop to immerse yourself in community at Life’sWork. You are welcome here.
- Join a seasonal Circle or LWY Book club.
- Coordinate a potluck, nature walk, or group meditation.
- Simply check in with a friend or fellow yogi who might need support or encouragement.
This September, may your practice become a refuge, your breath a bridge, and your presence a soothing balm—for yourself and for the world around you. Root down into the rhythms of the earth, and from there, rise into the clarity of autumn’s grace.
What’s your favorite way to shift into fall? Share your reflections in a reply or bring them to our next Circle.
