august in your body
summer is beginning it’s final hoorah and august signifies the beginning of vata season (dry, cold, light, mobile, etc). the arrival of august signifies a biannual shift in temperature as the weather starts to lean towards the cool darkness of fall and eventually autumn. perhaps you notice how the storms of august usher in cooler air much more readily than those of july. thus begins a time of delicately balancing our preparation for the cooler/darker months and the considerations for the heat and activity that we’ve been in the throes of for a few months.
lifestyle & routine
after the warmth of the earlier summer months have sweated out all of our moisture, august is a vital time to replenish electrolytes and moisturize so that we aren’t taken off guard come the turn of the season (just a few weeks away). take time to maintain solid oil massage routine (abhyanga) and hydration practices (aka this morning bev).
august ushers in a new routine as back to school season begins and vacation season winds down. regardless of where you are in life, this transition time means more traffic (with busses shuttling kids around and people firmly situated back in their work routines). inevitably, this change in energy asks for a change in routine to factor in new commute times, new weather patterns, and proper sunlight exposure. our circadian rhythms begin to fluctuate and these fluctuations lead to insomnia and poor recovery/rest.
the big take away from this time of transition is to dress properly for the weather (layer up for the cooler mornings/evenings), keep our bodies a bit warmer at bedtime (to counter the insomnia of late summer), and continue to prioritize a solid bedtime (and bed time routine) to keep the nighttime repair cycles on track and efficient.
diet staples
as within so without, and, as the season shift slides into place, our bodies start to crave the sweet and nourishing foods of autumn. coming off of the heatwaves of july, we are easily depleted, so building/fatty foods will lay a solid foundation for our pre-fall preparation. some examples of these foods include yogurt, beans, nuts, fish, root veggies, avocado, oils.
it’s also vitally important to continue staying hydrated with the summer heat still on and the body sweating throughout the day. hydrating with just water actually often turns into dehydration so liquid foods are a great opportunity to both hydrate and nourish. foods such as grapes, cucumbers, melons, peaches, tomatoes, and squashes are a great fit with their juiciness keeping us fueled with vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies running properly.
what’s next
summer is winding down and the days are getting shorter, so now is a good time to restore your energy and soak up the last bit of sun as you begin to lay the groundwork in your body for what’s to come. as always, reach out to your friendly neighborhood lifestyle consultant if you need a hand getting started.
