In Ayurveda, each season is intricately connected with a specific dosha. Doshas serve as a means to characterize the qualities of the physical and natural body or cycles. To maintain robust health, it is essential to keep the doshas in harmony, requiring adaptation to the changing seasons.

Ayurveda categorizes the year into seasons corresponding to the three primary doshas: Pitta, Kapha, and Vata. Each dosha, or the substances believed to exist within an individual’s body, possesses distinctive characteristics. Tailoring your daily routines and yoga practices to align with the prevailing season and associated energies can significantly contribute to overall well-being and a serene mind.

Instead of traditional divisions like winter, spring, summer, and fall, Ayurveda segments the year into three distinct seasons: Kapha season, Pitta season, and Vata season.

Autumn is predominantly influenced by the Vata dosha. Vata is representative of air and embodies sensations characterized by cold, windiness, roughness, dryness, lightness, subtlety, and ease of movement. According to Ayurvedic wisdom, autumn symbolizes a period of transformation and scarcity. It is a time when it’s easy to deplete nutrients, energy, and emotional strength. However, with careful attention and balancing, these challenges can be mitigated.

Autumn Yoga Practice Guidelines

Vata is particularly prone to aggravation when exposed to fast, mobile activities that can be deplete its energy. To counteract this, it’s advisable to embrace slower, more mindful forms of yoga during the autumn season, as they are less draining. Slow vinyasa or gentle restorative practices are the most suitable choices for harmonizing Vata’s erratic energy.