subject: A time for renewal in Autumn and Winter [print this page] As the nights start to draw in and thoughts turn to warm clothes and hot drinks, it can be hard to imagine that autumn is actually considered to be a time for renewal in some cultures. The ancient Indian system of Ayurveda places great importance on the concept of change at this time of year. If you think about it, it does make sense. In autumn change is all around us, a new school year, returning to work after our holidays, a change in the weather and the leaves putting on an amazing display of colour.
As the seasons change, our bodies become more susceptible to illness, so it's important to take it easy when the evenings start to draw in. As autumn starts to bite, try not to take on anything too stressful. Book yourself in for some yoga sessions, practice your meditation, or simply go for some calming walks in the park, indulging your inner six year old as you kick leaves around and scramble for conkers.
Getting into a routine also helps ease the transition, so try and get into the habit of a regular bedtime. Reset the alarm to accommodate the diminishing daylight if you have the luxury of setting your own working hours, and if not, ward off the inevitable approach of Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD) by investing in a light box or alarm clock which gently eases you into life in the mornings with a fake dawn rather than a shrill buzz.
You can also clear out the old and make room for the new with a detox a week (or just a few days if you're short on time) of cleansing and balancing treatments. There is a huge choice of spa days and treatments that focus on detoxing.
If you can't book yourself a gorgeous detox spa treatment, you can try a home based autumn detox, based on seasonal fruit and vegetables (organic if possible) making sure that you drink plenty of water and herbal teas. Try adding traditional warming spices to your food cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg can add comforting warmth to any meal. Treat yourself to a body scrub make your own with sea salt, olive oil and tea tree or lavender oil.
While you're enjoying your you-time' make sure that you spend some time detoxing your mind, too. Invest in a notebook or journal and really let rip with all the things you need to get out of your system. Then burn it, hide it or put it under lock and key!
A little preparation should make the change in seasons a positive process.
