FALL EQUINOX – SEPTEMBER 2016
The Outer Banks is full of magic and beauty throughout the year, but Fall takes the award for “Favorite Season” by many! The Autumnal or more commonly “Fall” Equinox is right around the corner. What is this phenomenon? Well, to keep things short: “Equinox” is derived from Latin meaning “equal night” and every year on either September 20th, 21st, or 22nd- there is roughly equal daylight as it is nighttime. This year, the Fall Equinox falls on Thursday, September 22nd at 10:21 am. Click here for information.
During this stage of the year, we may find ourselves going through welcomed and unwelcomed changes.
Great news!! Ayurveda, “Ayur” meaning “life” and “Veda” meaning “knowledge”, so, the study of life; also known as the “Sister Science of Yoga” can help us out with these changes! You may know, Ayurveda has been around for over 5,000 years and honors “The Five Great Elements” or Pancha Maha Bhutas; Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space (Ether). Our bodies are all made of unique combinations of each of these elements, creating what we call “Doshas,” Vata, Pitta, and Kapha”
Our bodies are consistently changing, as are these elements; a common saying in Ayurveda is “Like attracts like, when out of balance, do the opposite!” So, what does this have to do with Fall? Where typically we think of four seasons throughout the year, Ayurveda uses the three Dosha’s. Summer is primarily constituted by Pitta (fire and water) and Fall is Pitta (fire and water) in the beginning and moves into Vata (air and ether) as we get closer to Winter. As we move from the heat and activity of Summer and into the cooling “dying” Fall, the days become shorter as nights last longer. We may find our bodies and minds going through transitions as well!
Some changes you may notice mentally or physically:
-Colds/Sinus infections
-Excess Heat
-Attachment
-Allergies
-Feeling of Anger
-Greed
-Fatigue
-Lack of Motivation
-Depression
These “symptoms” could be caused due to the changing of seasons- as our external environment shifts, so does our internal environment. Many of us tend to accumulate excess pitta throughout summer, and our bodies are most likely overheated, dehydrated, and/or oily. Our tendencies may aim towards anger or irritation, when conflicted due to this excess “heat” (literally and figuratively.)
You are what you eat?! We are encouraged to move from lighter cooling foods and spices that keep us cool in the summer to heavier, oily, dark and warmer foods, once the weather turns cooler. ** Click Here for more Dosha balancing foods**
Stick to a daily routine. Begin your days early in the morning avoiding naps. Some quick additions to a morning routine are: Tongue Scrapping, Oil Pulling, Self Massage (Abhyanga,) Neti-Pot, Drinking Warm Water, Pranayama, and Yoga Asana. Check out our schedule to see what works best for you!
Whether you prefer the heat or the cold, there is no doubt that the best time on the Outer Banks is the Fall. Experience the magic, and embrace the change- after-all, the only consistent thing in our lives is change!
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Written by: Charlee Ulmer