Ayurveda Through the Year: October

Anchoring Yourself in the Winds of Autumn

Dear friends,

October can be one of the most beautiful times of the year — golden leaves, cooler skies, that fresh crispness in the air. But it’s also a month where Vata dosha (air + space) reaches its peak.

In Ayurveda, Vata governs motion — both in nature and in us. And when it gets too stirred up, it can make us feel anxious, ungrounded, distracted, or dry — physically and emotionally.

That’s why October is all about anchoring.

It’s a month to choose stillness over speed, warmth over rawness, routine over randomness. These simple shifts make a big difference in how you feel — in your body, your breath, your mind.

Let’s take care of ourselves the way the earth does: by slowing down.

🍂 OCTOBER TENDENCIES: Vata at Its Peak

• Dominant Dosha: Vata (air + space)
• Qualities: Cold, dry, light, mobile, subtle
• Common symptoms: Dry skin, constipation, restlessness, sleep troubles, overthinking

✅ What to FOCUS on this month

• Keep warmth close
  Physically and emotionally. Dress in layers. Sip warm water or herbal tea. Use spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon. Create emotional warmth through nourishing conversations and safe space.
• Grounding rituals matter
  Stick to consistent wake-sleep times. Begin or end your day with warm oil massage (abhyanga). Include a few minutes of silence or still breathing to settle the nervous system.
• Moisture is medicine
  Internally (ghee, healthy oils, warm foods) and externally (oil massage, humidifier, baths). Vata dries things out — so stay juicy.

❌ What to AVOID this month

• Raw, cold food (salads, smoothies, cold dairy)
• Excess movement, travel, or multitasking
• Overuse of caffeine, especially if you’re jittery
• Skipping meals or eating while distracted
• Overexposure to wind or cold weather

🍵 FOOD FOCUS: What to Eat in October

🟢 Favour these:

• Root veggies (carrots, pumpkin, beets, sweet potato)
• Warm grains: rice, oats, quinoa
• Cooked apples or pears with cinnamon
• Soaked nuts + seeds
• Ghee, olive oil, sesame oil
• Lentils, mung dal, warming soups and stews

🔴 Reduce or avoid:

• Raw vegetables, cold salads, carbonated drinks
• Ice water or cold dairy
• Dry crackers, chips, popcorn (drying)
• Highly processed or frozen foods

🌿 Small Self-Care Ritual: Warm Foot Massage Before Bed

Before sleeping, take 2–3 minutes to massage warm sesame oil into the soles of your feet.
This small act calms Vata, supports better sleep, soothes your nervous system, and helps with dryness.

Tip: Wear cotton socks to bed to avoid staining the sheets.

🍠 Simple Recipe: Sweet Potato Ginger Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato (peeled, chopped)
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tbsp ghee or olive oil
• 2 cups water or light veggie broth
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. In a pot, heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them pop.
2. Add ginger, turmeric, chopped veggies. Sauté for 3–4 minutes.
3. Add water/broth, simmer until vegetables are soft (15–20 mins).
4. Blend to a smooth soup. Serve warm with a drizzle of oil or ghee.

It’s grounding, nourishing, and beautifully Vata-balancing.

🧘♂️ A Gentle Reminder

If you feel scattered, dry, or stretched thin this month — it’s not just you.
It’s the season.

And the response isn’t to push harder.
It’s to slow down. To soften your edges. To create warmth and rhythm in your daily life.

Take time to be still. To breathe deeply.
To feel your feet on the ground, and your mind slowly quieting.

This is the season of listening — to your body, to the wind, and to the parts of yourself that only speak when things are quiet.

Stay close to yourself,
Martin & Monika