How’s everyone doing? I’d love to hear how you’ve been feeling—physically and mentally. Perhaps you’ve noticed a bit of a shift in your mood or energy over the past couple of weeks or just felt slightly out of sorts.

While recent weather events on the East Coast may play a significant role, the Seasonal Transition could be a major contributing factor as well.

Ayurveda pays heed to the transitory time between seasons, ‘Ritu Sandi’, the point where two seasons meet. The week before a new season arrives, coupled with the first week of that season, are seen as critical times for overall health and wellness.

Research has demonstrated that as seasons change, there is a higher chance of dosha imbalances, which can negatively impact both mental and physical health. Additionally, shifts in the amount of daylight can affect immune system functions, which are related to seasonal illnesses and overall mortality rates. These daily light and dark cycles also play a role in regulating immune responses.

While the sun is a major influence on seasonal variation, Ayurveda attributes the primary cause of imbalances during these times to an excess of vata (air). In summer, the sun heats the oceans, causing evaporation. This process results in cooler water surfacing and generates winds, currents, and precipitation worldwide. 

Although the sun’s position changes the seasons, it's the resulting weather patterns that primarily lead to an increase of vata - much like what we are seeing unfold on the East Coast.

In the summer heat, the natural tendency is to accumulate the warm, intense quailities of Pitta in the body. This external warmth influences our choices, guiding us toward cooler foods and environments, which help us maintain balance during the sweltering months. However, as the season shifts to Autumn, this cooling effect combined with the dryness increasingly found in our surroundings can lead to an internal accumulation of Vata dosha.

Just as the external landscape begins to change, our internal state mirrors this transformation. The symptoms of excess Vata—such as dry skin, colds, constipation, anxiety, insomnia, arthritic pain, and trouble concentrating—serve as reflections of the environment around us. These challenges become especially pronounced at the onset of Autumn (right now), a time inherently linked to Vata's influence. Ultimately, the fluctuations in our external world deeply resonate within us, underscoring the interconnectedness of nature and our internal wellness.

From a Vedic viewpoint, moments of transition, or sandhis, offer us chances to enhance our awareness and connect more deeply with our nervous systems. On a subtle level, these transitions correspond to changes within our consciousness tied to the seasons. We also experience these shifts during significant life stages, such as moving from adolescence to adulthood, during menstruation and pregnancy, as we enter our later years around 60, and during various other phases in life. Ayurveda honours these transitions as they present valuable opportunities for personal growth, evolution, and a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us.

This period of change serves as the perfect time to realign with nature's circadian rhythms, allowing us to reset the intricate biological clock present in every cell. So, what can you do to help navigate this seasonal transition with ease?

As a General Guide the following can help immensely:

• Slow down & Surrender

• Eat sattvic foods to facilitate cleansing - avoid processed meat, aged cheeses and fried foods

• Eat more easily digestible foods such as soup, kitchari, steamed veg, stewed fruit and moong dal

• Drink more hot water throughout the day to aid cleansing

• Take an Ayurvedic digestive aid such as CCF tea, or triphala at night for the week to ensure a complete cleansing every morning.

• Abhyanga (Self-massage each day with warm oil)

• Dim the lights or use candles at night

• Reduce time spent in front of screens 

• Go to bed and wake up around the same time each day ( in bed before 10:00pm )

• Drink a warm beverage before retiring to bed.

• Move your body, but do it gently 

*Important to note that the above is a general guide and does not take into account your prakriti/vikriti ( constitution/current presentation ). Consume and use the foods, oils, and herbs that are best suited to you.

For example: Two people with a Pitta Prakriti, and both presenting with Vata & Pitta aggravation can look completely different to one another. Whilst one may be experiencing more of the dry and erratic qualities (dry skin, constipation, inability to concentrate), the other may have an excess of the hot and watery qualities of Pitta, which could bring about slightly oily skin & hair, loose bowel motions and irritability.

In this case, the above advice still stands. However, the foods, herbs and oils would differ for each person. For example: 

Person A: Yellow Split Mung, Basmati Rice, Lemon, Fresh Ginger, Ghee or Sesame Oil, Haritaki, Chai 

Person B: Whole Green Mung Beans, Quinoa, Lime, Fresh Coriander, Coconut or Jojoba Oil, Amalaki, Matcha or Golden Milk.

If you are interested in learning more about this in depth, my lovely friend Deni @_soma.vidya is currently offering her Agni Reset (10-day  Ayurvedic gut cleanse program) at $50. Her program combines ancient Ayurvedic techniques, nourishing herbs, and a  3-day monodiet featuring the Ayurvedic gem—kitchari.

In Dharma school, the beautiful light that is @kristin_ananda_devi has a Sattvic Reset complete with preparation lecture, daily schedule, recipes, guides on what to eat/what not to eat, principles of eating, sahana, mantra and Vedic & Yogic Laws for living with cosmic consciousness.

Or you could simply follow a gentle seasonal Kitchari cleanse for 3 consecutive days and then slowly incorporate the specific season-pacifying foods and lifestyle guidelines outlined in my book OJAS.

Wherever you’re at, take some time over the next week, retreat where you can, still your nervous system, reset your circadian clock, and utilise this transition to rid yourself of old emotional patterns of behaviour.

Use this worksheet to track your energy throughout the four moon phases and/or the four phases of menstruation. To complete, write how you feel using singular words only , during each lunar/menstrual phase. Track your energy as much as possible during each phase, then repeat with each new four week cycle. Over time, this information will lead to greater awareness of your personal lunar system.

The Follicular phase (after menstruation in which oestrogen and testosterone start to rise) usually gives us a welcomed boost in energy and makes us feel more alert and focused. 

With this increased energy, it’s a good time to engage in a more physical practice that incorporates some type of strength or resistance training. HIIT workouts, dance cardio or maybe a power yoga class. 

It’s also important to ground ourselves and ensure we feel nourished going through the rest of the cycle, so make sure you balance this yang energy with some cooling yin energy.

Our neuroendocrine system (pituitary, pineal, and hypothalamus glands), is our body’s hormonal control system, and reads signals from our nervous system about how to behave. I designed this flow to specifically work on the nervous and neuroendocrine system, as well as the uterus/ovaries, to help naturally stimulate and restore hormonal balance. Yin Yoga is meant to be an introspective practice, which in itself, helps to rest and restore the nervous system and bring it out of “fight or flight mode,” so I invite you to soften into each pose, and breath deeply, to experience the fullest effects.

You can always pick 2 - 3 poses to transition you in or out of your day, or grab your mat and props, hit play on the playlist i’ve included and enjoy this delicious 75 minute Yin Flow.

*If you are in the menstrual phase of your cycle, heat a hot water bottle or heat pack and incorporate into some of the poses.

When you think of your GUT, you are probably only thinking of your belly. But the gut—or gastrointestinal system—is just that: a system. 

The gut includes the mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, and rectum. 

The guts role goes so much further than just helping us digest and assimilate food. Our microbiome—and its community of bacteria—extends its influence far beyond the gut wall. It affects our overall health and wellbeing in countless ways; (regulation of our hormones, mood enhancing chemicals, and blood sugar, which of course impact on our immune, endocrine and nervous systems.

The gut is powerful yet delicate. It can easily be thrown out of balance. 

Signs of an imbalanced digestive system will naturally vary from person to person, but generally speaking, the following are physical indicators of an underlying gut issue:

❁Digestive issues

❁Unexpected weight loss or weight gain

❁Constant Fatigue

❁Oestrogen Dominance

❁Skin Conditions

❁Food Intolerance/ Histamine Intolerance

❁Mood Changes

In the past 10 years, we’ve been quick to blame sugar, wheat and dairy for all of our gut issues, and while some of that still holds true, you may be more surprised about the amount of ‘healthy’ foods we have turned to in their place; of which, are packed with ingredients that are wreaking havoc on your gut. Plant Based + Gluten Free alternatives - I’m looking at you! Because we’re all bio-individuals, what causes your digestive issues won’t be the same as the next person, therefore, I want you take this list with a grain of salt, and please don’t beat yourself up about it. I’ll be the first to admit I went through a phase a few years back, of switching the plant based milks/creams/meats and gluten free breads, thinking they were a healthier option. Knowing what I do now, I’m on a mission to get people returning to REAL whole foods, and the most simplest way to do this is to prepare your food as much as you can from scratch!

If you suspect you have poor gut health or hormonal imbalances, then seeking help is always recommended. Identifying your triggers may require a combination of experimenting with removing the above at home, and testing. A basic understanding of the status of your gut may require a comprehensive stool test, SIBO breath test, or food allergy / sensitivity/ parasite testing which is something I can help you with. In the meantime, familiarise yourself with these ingredients, get curious and read the ingredients panel and start opting for real food; make your sauces and salad dressings from scratch, and buy local, organic or pesticide free where you can !

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE

The ancient texts of Ayurveda extol the virtues of WHEAT, as a nourishing, strengthening food. Its properties are heavy, oily, sweet and cooling. 

Wheat has, and still remains an important food item widely used in Ayurveda, particularly for the airy Vata and fiery Pitta types, owing to its nutritive nature. For the watery Kapha types, who tend towards being overweight and/or have sluggish, impaired digestion it should be generally avoided. Aside from balancing Vata + Pitta, grains are considered nourishing and comforting, they improve the Ojas, and they are sattvic in nature; meaning they promote contentment and harmony. 

But the wheat we eat today has undergone some pretty major changes over the last few millennia, and what we’ve done to wheat in that space of time, has  been incredibly detrimental to our health. While humans have likely been consuming grains for at least 30,000 years, it was roughly 10,000 years ago when we began cultivating wheat in the Fertile Crescent (an area in the Middle East). Since then, we have been hybridising with other varieties from all over world resulting in a shortening of the stem allowing more weight to be carried on the plant and faster harvesting. Furthermore, since gluten gives wheat products enjoyable textures, we began creating wheat strains with soaring levels of gluten, before we even knew what gluten was. Our increased scientific understanding of agriculture has led to wheat products with much more gluten than those humans historically consumed. 

Gluten intolerance, also called gluten sensitivity, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or non-celiac wheat sensitivity, is a disorder, more common than celiac disease , that can cause problems with your digestive system. Unlike celiac disease, these reactions to consuming gluten or wheat products won’t cause permanent damage to your stomach, intestine, or other organs, but if you suffer from an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the gluten can trigger inflammation, which may be heavily influencing your symptoms and the progression of your disease.

While there is no doubt that gluten is to blame for the debilitating symptoms of celiac disease, we might have been too quick to assume that this protein, found in wheat and some other grains, is also entirely responsible for the symptoms associated with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Some individuals diagnosed with NCGS might actually be sensitive to one of the many other components of wheat, possibly a different protein, carbohydrate, FODMAPs and amylase trypsin inhibitors (involved in starch and protein degradation. In addition to that and more importantly, more than half of bacterial species in the human gut microbiome are potentially sensitive to glyphosate; the herbicide that most dry crops are sprayed with. Glyphosate increases homocysteine, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and disrupts the gut microbiota. Glyphosate has been associated with several diseases, including thyroid disorders rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus. Decreased gut microbial diversity has been associated with a range of autoimmune conditions, obesity, diabetes, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

Because we already know that gluten causes problems in those who have celiac disease, the common assumption when someone claims to feel better after eliminating wheat from their diet is that the symptoms had been a reaction to its gluten. However, wheat is a complex structure with an estimated 95,000 genes, which is several times more than the amount that scientists estimate are contained within the human genome. Wheat’s genes could contain many varied compounds, any one of which, other than gluten, could be causing symptoms. While avoiding gluten makes these individuals feel better, it could be because they are also avoiding all the other compounds in wheat, including whichever one is the true source of their symptoms. 

Asatmya is the term used for intolerance. According to Ayurveda, food intolerance or allergies occur due to the imbalance of Doshas and Agni. When a persons digestive fire is low, and they eat foods that are heavy to digest, the food is then not digested or assimilated properly leading to malabsorption. Food and/or experiences that are not digested and eliminated correctly, accumulate and become ama (toxins), leading to the clogging of the channels of circulation. Now, if Agni is already weak, heavy foods like grain will straight up, be difficult to digest, but eliminating this food, is a band-aid solution. On the surface it will appear as if the issue has been resolved. However, not only have we not addressed the root cause, we are also further weakening the Agni, as grains contain enzymes that support digestion (especially that of proteins). This leads to more systemic issues. 

For years, I waged a war against wheat containing products; blaming gluten as the sole culprit, and not taking into account the other villains in this story;  farming and agricultural pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals, hybridisation, seed oils, thickeners, preservatives, and very importantly a poorly functioning digestive system. My eldest daughter is a Vata, through and through; creative, joyous, effervescent, dynamic, high energy from dawn until dusk. She has a natural aversion to greens in their whole form, but will consume blended with fats and mixed into meat or rice, she is naturally drawn to the heavy grounding foods that soothe her Vata; Breads, Pasta, Butter, Ghee, Lassi and Warm Milk; all of which I had previously substituted with “gluten free”, or “dairy free”, alternatives. These alternatives made no difference in improving her gut health, and if anything we found her energy levels and behaviour to be exacerbated. After studying Ayurvedic Nutrition, I came to the realisation, that I had been looking at nutrition for her ( and myself if I’m honest) all wrong, and if these were the foods I could get her to eat without argument, then I needed to do two things: source the purest of ingredients and/or prepare these foods myself, and also work at rekindling our digestive fires. This post is a little lengthy, so if you are interested in how to improve your Agni, please reach out, or grab a copy of my book, but a very long story short; we are now 9 months into making our own breads/bread products, making our own ghee, yoghurt/lassi and we are fortunate enough to get our hands on RAW cold-pressed Jersey Milk; the difference these little changes have made are profound! Firstly, these foods have such a calming effect on her, the opposite when she consumes processed/packages versions. The process of making these foods in itself are a soothing activity for both her Vata and my Pitta, but on top of that we have been able to eat real bread, bread and dairy products without becoming reactive (inflammation, bloating, mood/behavioural changes, etc).

In my book OJAS I speak about the flour I sourced, which is grown here in Australia, in the sun-drenched, naturally clean environment of the southern Flinders Ranges. Their wheat has been bred by traditional methods and does not have any genetically modified material, and is traceable from paddock to baker. I still adore this gorgeous flour, but with the amount I use, the 1KG bags + postage weren’t cutting it. Since writing OJAS I have also discovered Einkorn Flour or Emmer Flour. Emmer Wheat is a traditional heirloom wheat grain, a variety of wheat that was used during earlier periods of history. It has not been manipulated or hybridised (a cross pollination of plants) by modern methods. Wholegrain Milling Co. in Gunnedah, NSW has been producing sustainable stone ground ancient grain flours, without the use of chemicals, fertilisers or pesticides for over 4 decades. Their farming methods support soil improvement and only use natural inputs. Improving the long-term environmental sustainability of the land they farm. Emmer flour is my personal preference, but other non-gmo ancient grains you could try (if you aren’t celiac) are Spelt, Khorasan (kamut), and Rye. 

So when it comes to gluten and wheat intolerance, or any food intolerance for that matter, you need to check in with the strength of your Agni, and that will determine a yay or nay on the bread front. Since weak Agni affects our ability to digest food, I suggest you address that before anything else. Then, when Agni is functionally correctly, if all the doshas are balanced, and if it's the right season, have fun making your breads, your pastas, yoghurts and ghee. Take comfort in knowing that your ingredients have been sourced from a clean environment, and have been prepared lovingly by your own hands. 

Your liver works hard to keep metabolic processes running smoothly and your body free of harmful toxins. This is a challenging set to build a strong and healthy liver.