Satyam Holistic Wellness

When the cool breezes of Fall begin to blow, we retire our flip-flops for a cute pair of Fall boots and pull-out the sweaters. A new type of care is called for as we embark upon a change of seasons, so that our body, mind and emotions can adapt with ease.

The cool, gusty winds can stir us. The mind becomes unsettled, restless and feelings of insecurity, unease, anxiety and worry can shake us to the core. Those people with a more delicate constitution, (in Ayurveda we call them Vata), experience the Fall with more acute symptoms. This constitution is so light in nature that they can feel like a kite floating up in the sky, blowing this way and that, with no sense of direction.

You don’t have to be this constitution to feel the effects of Fall. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above you can try these 5 tips for grounding, staying connected to your body, calming feelings of anxiety, and reducing the whirlwind of thoughts in your mind. You can connect with your unshakable inner coziness and rest in the peace that you are!

1. Rest

Going to bed prior to 10pm is ideal. After 10pm, we shift into a time cycle where the mind gets more active, making us more energized, leading to challenges in falling asleep. For those with a sensitive or heightened nervous system, 8-10 hours of sleep is ideal.

Another way to conserve energy is to talk less. We lose a lot of energy in excess speech and often say more than is necessary. Excessive speech activates the nervous system and the mind.

Our nervous system also gets taxed is through the over stimulation of our senses. We are constantly being bombarded by stimulation through our electronic devices, environments with a lot of noise, being in crowds and the incessent chattering of our own minds. Our eyes take so many images during the day. All of this sensory input gets stored in the subconscious, forming much of the material of our dreams. When the subconscious gets overloaded, our nervous systems get affected.

So rest the senses. Begin by moving less. Notice the impulse to want to act, to do, to engage the senses. Just notice. And challenge yourself by asking, “is this movement really necessary?” See what happens when you become more aware and do this with curiousity and kindness towards yourself.

2. Massage your feet before bed

Warm-up a small amount of warm sesame oil and massage it into your feet before bed. This pulls the energy down from your head to your feet, very conducive to a restfull night’s sleep and to feeling more grounded.

3. Maintain a routine

Try to rise and go to bed at the same time each day. Eat regular meals, 3 times per day. Go for a daily walk at a relaxed pace to connect with Mother Earth. Walking barefoot on the Earth is not only grounding, it also boosts the immune system.

4. Eat warm, moist, nourishing foods

Warm, moist, nourishing foods have a grounding effect on the body and mind. Foods like sweet potatoes, soups and stews with warming spices like cinnamon, fresh ginger, cloves, black mustard seeds, sage, thyme, oregano and basil aid digestion and provide a delicious taste to your meal. Avoid foods that will unground you, like dry, sugary, processed, cold foods and fizzy cold drinke.

Choose from herbal teas that are calming for the nervous system, like: tulsi, brahmi, gotu kola, passion flower, skullcap, chammomile, lavendar and lemon balm.

5. Breathwork and Meditation

A daily practice of breathwork and meditation will support you to feel relaxed and grounded in the day, fortifying your nervous system to handle any challenges. All of the sensory imput from your day gets stored in your subconscious and needs to be released. Meditation is a great way to release this.

Breathwork is the ultimate grounder. It brings you into your body, which offers you deep relaxation and reassurance that your body supports you. The ultimate breath for beginners is belly breathing. It stimulates the vagus nerve that runs from your brain to your large intestine. When you belly is relaxed, your mind is more calm and it is easier to feel at home within your body.

Try this short practice:

1. Sitting in easy pose or on a chair, with spine straight, begin with 3 minutes of deep belly breathing through your nose (breathing through your nose is very grounding). Breath into your belly, softly and gently expanding it as you count to 4; then exhale through your nose to the count of 6. Do this a total of 9 times.

2. focus your attention at the point between your eyebrows, (your third eye), breath is long and deep, for 3 minutes. Notice your impulse to move and challenge it by staying still. When your mind wanders, simply bring it back to rest and focus on the your third eye.

Notes: You can build-up the time from 3 minute each to 7 minutes and finally 11 minutes. Do this practice for 40 days and let me know what happens!

Your sankalpa, (heartfelt desire): I can relax with gratitude into my body.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be grateful for your body by being aware of what it needs for you to feel grounded.