Ayurveda Through the Year: September

A Gentle Transition Into Balance

Dear friends,

As September arrives, something subtle begins to shift. The light softens. The air cools. Even if the days are still warm, the evenings carry a whisper of change.

This month marks a seasonal transition — from summer’s fiery energy to autumn’s light, dry, mobile qualities. And that means Vata dosha starts to rise.

In Ayurveda, Vata is the energy of movement — made of air and space. It governs creativity, motion, breath, and the nervous system. But when it gets stirred up too quickly (as it often does in this transitional month), it can leave us feeling scattered, anxious, or ungrounded.

Let’s make September a time to slow down, nourish, and prepare.

🍂 SEPTEMBER TENDENCIES: Vata Is Rising

• Elements active: Air + space
• Qualities: Light, dry, rough, mobile, cold
• Common symptoms: Anxiety, restlessness, dry skin, constipation, poor sleep, racing thoughts

✅ What to FOCUS on this month

• Build grounding routines
  Try waking and sleeping at the same time daily. Vata loves rhythm. Add a grounding evening routine like herbal tea, journaling, or 10 minutes of silence.
• Moisturize inside and out
  Include healthy fats in your diet: ghee, olive oil, sesame oil. And practice self-abhyanga (oil massage) with warm sesame oil in the morning — it’s like a warm hug for your nervous system.
• Warmth over raw
  Favor cooked foods, warm drinks, and gentle spices. This calms Vata and supports digestion as the weather cools.
• Breathe + be still
  Even a short daily alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) practice can help settle mental overactivity.

❌ What to AVOID this month

• Cold, raw foods (like smoothies or salads straight from the fridge)
• Too much travel or screen time
• Skipping meals or eating on the go
• Overexertion, overstimulation, noisy environments
• Staying up too late (Vata increases after 10 PM)

🍲 FOOD FOCUS: What to Eat in September

🟢 Yes, please:

• Warm, cooked meals (soups, stews, porridge)
• Root veggies: carrots, sweet potato, beets
• Warming spices: cinnamon, cumin, ginger, cardamom
• Fats: ghee, sesame oil, almond butter
• Fruits: stewed apples, pears, dates

🔴 Avoid or limit:

• Raw salads, cold drinks, iced water
• Beans (unless well-cooked with ghee and spices)
• Caffeine in excess (it adds to Vata’s speed)

🛁 Small Self-Care Ritual: Sesame Oil Massage for Grounding

Each morning, before your shower, warm 2–3 tablespoons of organic sesame oil (not toasted). Massage it slowly into your skin from head to toe. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Then shower with warm (not hot) water.

This calms the nervous system, lubricates joints, and nourishes your skin before the drier season arrives.

Bonus tip: Add a few drops of vetiver or frankincense essential oil to the sesame oil for grounding support.

🥣 Simple September Recipe: Spiced Apple Porridge

Ingredients:

• 1 apple (peeled and chopped)
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plant milk (almond, oat, or cow’s milk if tolerated)
• 1 tsp ghee or coconut oil
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• A pinch of nutmeg
• 1–2 chopped dates or figs

Instructions:

1. In a small pot, heat ghee. Add apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sauté until soft.
2. Add oats and milk. Simmer for 5–10 minutes, stirring.
3. Add chopped dates at the end.
4. Serve warm, topped with a few soaked almonds or sunflower seeds if you like.

It’s nourishing, grounding, and perfect to start your day gently.

🧘♀️ A Gentle Reminder

Just as nature begins to let go of summer’s intensity, you’re invited to let go too.

Let go of rushing.
Let go of pushing through.
Let go of expecting the same energy every day.

September is a wise pause between seasons — a chance to slow down and soften into yourself again.

Let the winds of change move through you… not uproot you.

Warmly,
Martin & Monika