Ayurveda Through the Year: November

trengthen from Within Before Winter Begins

Dear friends,

November is a threshold month. The leaves have mostly fallen. The air is cold and still. Nature is preparing to turn inward — and so should we.

According to Ayurveda, Vata dosha is still dominant — with its qualities of dryness, lightness, and movement — but there's a subtle shift. The body begins craving more stability, warmth, and nourishment. This is nature’s quiet preparation for the winter months.

So what’s the invitation?

This month asks us to nourish, build strength, and slow down — before the deepest part of winter arrives.

You may feel more vulnerable this time of year — emotionally, physically, even energetically. That’s okay. Instead of resisting, Ayurveda teaches us to work with the season. Let November be a month of restoration — gentle, intentional, and deeply supportive.

🍁 NOVEMBER TENDENCIES: Vata Season Deepens

• Dominant Dosha: Vata (air + space)
• Qualities: Cold, rough, light, dry, subtle
• Common imbalances: Dry skin, stiff joints, insomnia, anxiety, low immunity, irregular digestion

✅ What to FOCUS on this month

• Build Ojas (your inner vitality)
  Ojas is your subtle energy of immunity and resilience. Nourishing food, proper rest, kindness, and emotional warmth all help to replenish it.
• Stay warm — outside and inside
  Add scarves, warm socks, and hats. Drink hot teas and spiced milk. Make your home feel cozy with candlelight and soft music.
• Create rhythm
  Vata gets unbalanced by inconsistency. Try to sleep and wake at the same time. Eat at regular intervals. Keep daily routines simple and grounding.

❌ What to AVOID this month

• Cold/raw food and drinks
• Overuse of technology, especially at night
• Skipping meals or eating in a rush
• Excess travel or chaotic schedules
• Overexercising or high-intensity workouts

🥘 FOOD FOCUS: What to Eat in November

🟢 Favour these:

• Cooked grains: oats, rice, quinoa
• Hearty soups and dals
• Roasted root vegetables
• Ghee, sesame oil, or olive oil
• Soaked almonds, walnuts
• Warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cumin, clove

🔴 Reduce or avoid:

• Ice water, cold smoothies, raw salads
• Dried or frozen foods
• Caffeine in excess
• Fermented or yeasty foods if digestion is off

🧴 Small Self-Care Ritual: Full-Body Abhyanga (Oil Massage)

Choose warm sesame oil (best for Vata) and massage your entire body from head to toe before your shower. Even 10 minutes helps:

• Calm the nervous system
• Lubricate joints and skin
• Improve circulation and immunity

Massage toward the heart, in circular motions on joints, long strokes on limbs. Rest for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Do this once or twice a week to stay grounded and nourished.

🥣 Simple Recipe: Warming Oat + Almond Porridge

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup water or plant milk (or mix)
• 1 tsp ghee
• 4–5 soaked almonds (peeled, chopped)
• Pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric
• Dash of jaggery or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat ghee in a pot. Add spices and almonds. Stir for 30 sec.
2. Add oats and liquid. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer.
3. Stir until thick and creamy. Add sweetener if desired.

It’s soothing, easy to digest, and a wonderful way to start a chilly day.

🍂 A Gentle Reminder

November reminds us that strength doesn’t always look like doing more. Sometimes it’s choosing to rest. To soften. To step away from the noise.

This month, make time for slowness. Cook something warm. Read by a window. Go for a silent walk among bare trees. Light a candle and sit with your breath.

Health isn’t always something we chase.
Sometimes, it arrives quietly — when we return to rhythm, simplicity, and care.

Stay warm. Stay close to yourself,
Martin & Monika