Snippets of Ayurvedic Wisdom - October 2025
- Dr. Arlini Singh
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Grounding into Vata Season
Dear Ayurvedic Enthusiasts,
As the leaves turn golden and the air carries a crisp whisper of change, we step fully into autumn—Vata season in Ayurveda.
This time of year, with its dry winds, cooling temperatures, and erratic energy, mirrors the qualities of Vata dosha: light, mobile, and subtle.
Just as we transitioned from Pitta's fiery summer in our September edition, October invites us to embrace grounding practices that nourish the body, calm the mind, and prepare us for winter's embrace. Drawing from our notes on seasonal flows, this month's newsletter focuses on warm, stabilizing rituals to keep you balanced amid the falling leaves.
Whether you're sipping a spiced chai by the window or wrapping up in layers for a gentle walk, let's cultivate inner warmth together.
Share your fall favourites with us—we love hearing how these tips weave into your days!
Warmly,
Dr. Arlini Singh
Your Ayurvedic Doctor
Embracing Autumn's Rhythm: A Vata-Balancing Overview
Fall is a season of transition, where nature sheds what no longer serves, inviting space for renewal. In Ayurveda, this aligns with Vata's airy essence, which can stir restlessness, dryness, or scattered thoughts if left unchecked. The key? Counter with qualities that soothe: warmth, oiliness, routine, and nourishment.
From our September chat, we emphasized gradual shifts—remember phasing out cooling salads? Now, lean deeper into cooked, moist foods and steady routines to anchor that vibrant prana (life force) as days shorten.
Nourishing Your Plate: Fall Diet Essentials
October's cooler vibes call for meals that are warm, grounding, and easy to digest—think stews simmered low and slow, garnished with ghee for that extra hug of lubrication. Favour sweet, sour, and salty tastes while minimizing bitter, astringent, or dry options like raw greens or popcorn. Root veggies (beets, sweet potatoes), cooked grains (oats, quinoa), and proteins like lentils build stability.
Quick Tips from Our Seasonal Notes:
Start breakfast with oatmeal topped with cooked apples and cinnamon for steady energy.
Lunch and dinner: Hearty soups or dal with steamed veggies—add warming spices like ginger, turmeric, and cumin to fire up agni (digestion).
Hydrate with warm herbal teas; sip room-temperature water throughout the day to combat dryness.
Gradually introduce these from summer's lighter fare, as we discussed last month—no abrupt changes to avoid shocking your system.
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Featured Recipe: Vata Soothing Kitchari: Cleansing and Grounding
Our vata-pacifying gem is warm, moist, and comforting—perfect for batch-cooking on a crisp October afternoon, serving as a nourishing mono-diet base for the season.
Ingredients :
1 cup basmati rice
½ cup yellow split mung beans
4 cups water
2 tablespoons ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
salt to taste
mixed vegetables ( any vegetable of your choice - some good options are cauliflower, spinach, peas, etc)
fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions :
Rinse the Grains : Rinse the rice and mung beans thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear.
Heat the Ghee : In a large pot, heat the ghee over medium heat and add the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Sauté they start to sizzle.
Add Spices : Add the turmeric powder and sauté for another minute.
Combine Ingredients : Add the rinsed rice and mung beans to the pot and stir well to
coat them with the spices.
Add Vegetables : Add the water, salt and vegetables to the pot. Stir well.
Cook the Kitchari : Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
Serve : Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Notes :
Adjust consistency : If you prefer a thicker kitchari, reduce the amount of water. For a more soupy consistency, add extra water as needed.
Serve with a side of fresh lime or lemon wedges to brighten the flavours
Can serve with side of plain yoghurt or raita for protein content
Add Indian pickle for more flavour and tanginess.
Add chutney if you prefer a sweet or spicy taste.
This dish is the ultimate comfort food.
Wondering which vegetables (or tweaks) are truly ideal for your unique dosha? Skip the online quizzes—book a personalized consultation today to uncover your constitution and get tailored guidance that goes way beyond the basics.
Unlike those quick self-assessments, which often miss the nuances of your current imbalances, lifestyle, tongue and pulse diagnosis, our one-on-one sessions reveal your full prakriti (your body's blueprint) and vikriti (current imbalances) delivering precise, holistic recommendations that spark real, lasting transformation.
Daily Rituals for Inner Stability
Building on last month's emphasis on routine, October amplifies the need for grounding anchors. Vata thrives on predictability, so weave these into your days like threads in a cozy scarf.
Lifestyle Highlights:
Abhyanga (Self-Massage):
Warm Vata Massage Oil in circular motions daily—focus on joints and feet. Follow with a steamy shower to lock in moisture and ease tension.
Gentle Movement: Opt for slow yoga, walking, or tai chi at 50-70% effort—nose breathing keeps it calming. Aim for early morning or evening sessions.
Wind-Down Routine:
Early bedtime with hot milk or Vata tea; layer up outdoors to shield from chilly gusts.
Mindful Pause:
10-15 mins of meditation or Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) to steady the mind.
For a visual cue, try this gentle forward fold to release fall's built-up stress:
Herbal Allies for the Season
Vata-pacifying allies that fortify immunity and nurture respiratory health amid the season's chill. These grounding gems build ojas (vital essence), soothe dryness, and shield against fall's whims—perfect for sustaining your inner fire.
Ashwagandha:
Our cornerstone adaptogen for Vata balance, this nourishing root excels at calming nerves, enhancing vitality, and modulating immunity to fend off seasonal stressors. It also supports lung resilience by easing inflammation and promoting steady breathing. Blend 1/2 tsp into warm milk or ghee nightly for profound restoration and sleep or take 2 capsules at night
Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk Mix):
A creamy, golden embrace for Vata's dryness, this blend harnesses turmeric's potent
anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting powers to warm the body, lubricate tissues, and protect respiratory passages from seasonal shifts. Stir a teaspoon into hot milk with a pinch of black pepper for enhanced absorption—your evening ritual for glowing vitality.
Sitopaladi Churna (Lung Formula Tablets):
This classic respiratory tonic, now in convenient tablet form, harmonizes Vata while expelling excess kapha from the lungs—easing coughs, soothing irritation, and promoting clear airways with its blend of pippali, cardamom, and mishri. Take 1-2 tablets in warm water post-meals for gentle, grounding relief.
Consult your practitioner for personalized dosing or tweaks to get the most of the herbs.
A Gentle Cleanse Invitation
As we noted in September's transition tips, fall is prime for a soft reset. Consider a 3-5 day kitchari mono-diet mid - season —simple, nourishing, and detoxifying without depleting Vata. It's the perfect bridge to November's deeper winter prep.
Your Turn: Community Pulse
What’s one Vata-soothing ritual you're committing to this October?
Reply to this newsletter or tag us on social—we'll feature favourites next month!
For deeper dives, book a seasonal consultation via our site.
Until November's Kapha whispers, may your days be steady and spiced.
In harmony,
Dr. Arlini Singh
Ayurvedic Doctor
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