Embracing the Shift from Summer to Fall with Ayurveda

As summer fades and the light begins to soften, nature offers a gentle invitation to slow down, root in, and align with the rhythms of the season. This sunrise reminds me that transition can be beautiful when we meet it with presence.

As August bows out and September arrives with its crisp morning air and golden light, I begin to feel the first whispers of Vata in the wind. That dry, cool, subtle energy begins to stir—even before the leaves change. In Ayurveda, this transition from the fiery intensity of summer (Pitta season) into the airy, mobile qualities of fall (Vata season) is a sacred time. A time of change, reflection, and gentle grounding.

Personally, September is my favorite month. There’s something magical about the way the light softens, the earth quiets, and routines begin to return. I find myself drawn to the kitchen, making bone broths, stirring stews with earthy root vegetables, sipping warm teas, and slowly preserving the summer harvest—dehydrating herbs, freezing greens, and tucking away bags of sun-ripened tomatoes in the freezer to make sauces throughout the winter.

The Ayurvedic Lens: Why Transitions Matter

In Ayurveda, the junctions between seasons—called ritu sandhi—are potent windows for renewal. If we move through them mindfully, we can stay balanced and resilient. If we push through with our summer habits, we risk aggravating Vata: dryness, anxiety, irregular digestion, and restlessness often follow.

This time of year asks us to slow down, return to routine, and bring in nourishment—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Supporting the Shift with Grace: Food as Medicine

Autumn Roasted Roots Bowl🍠🥕This vibrant, grounding dish brings together beets, carrots, potatoes, and herbs—roasted slowly in ghee for warmth and nourishment. A perfect way to support digestion and stability during Vata season.

Fall invites us to bring in qualities that balance Vata: warmth, moisture, stability, and routine.

Here are some ways to nourish your body through food:

🌿 Favor Warm, Cooked Foods: Think soups, stews, kitchari, and roasted root vegetables. Add warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cumin to aid digestion.

🌿 Incorporate Healthy Oils: Ghee, sesame oil, and avocado oil help counteract Vata’s dryness from the inside out.

🌿 Root Down: Enjoy grounding vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, and squashes. These foods help us feel safe, settled, and nourished. One of my new favorite seasonal dishes is my Autumn Roasted Roots Bowl—a simple, satisfying mix of colorful root veggies, lightly seasoned and roasted to bring out their natural sweetness and warmth.

🌿 Stay Hydrated—Warmly: Sip on warm water or teas throughout the day. My go-to blend this season is a simple TLC Tea: tulsi, licorice root, and cardamom—more recently I've been adding ginger, which brings a gentle heat and extra digestive support.

🌿 Keep it Simple: Avoid raw salads and cold smoothies this time of year—they’re too rough and cold for sensitive Vata digestion.

Lifestyle Practices to Anchor You

This is also the season for gentle discipline. Ayurveda reminds us that a supportive daily rhythm (dinacharya) is one of the most stabilizing tools we have.

Abhyanga (Oil Massage): My personal anchor. Massaging warm sesame or ashwagandha-infused oil into the skin each morning calms the nervous system, nourishes tissues, and protects against the drying winds of fall. If you're feeling the call to ground more deeply this season, consider booking an abhyanga session with me—a beautiful gift of self-care and seasonal support.

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Gentle Movement: Long walks in nature, slow yoga flows, and grounding breathwork practices help center scattered Vata energy.

Create Ritual: I find deep joy in the seasonal rituals of preserving food—freezing applesauce, making jams from fresh peaches, pears, and apples, drying tulsi for my TLC tea, and preserving herbs like lavender and oregano. Summer squash gets shredded and tucked into the freezer for quickbreads through the winter. These acts connect me to the rhythm of the earth and prepare me for the inward turn of winter.

Honor Sleep: As the days shorten, honor your body’s natural desire to rest. Aim to be in bed by 10 p.m. and keep a consistent bedtime.

Seasonal Joys: Apple Picking & Hearth Magic

Jackson, the Pro Apple Picker 🍏 This boy has mastered the art of apple picking—and snacking! Jackson picked with purpose and munched with joy, all at the same time. Moments like this make our yearly apple orchard tradition so sweet.

I believe each season holds its own sacred gifts. For me, fall is about coziness, simplicity, and presence. Apple picking becomes more than a fun activity—it’s become a yearly ritual with my daughter and the grandkids, a way to reconnect with the land and my own roots. Cooking and baking becomes a meditation. Cinnamon-scented kitchens. Warm fuzzy socks. Mugs cradled in hands. These small pleasures become soul medicine.

A Time to Root Inward

As we transition into fall, I invite you to ask: Where can I simplify? Where can I soften? Where can I root?

Let this be a season of intentional slowing. Of nourishing foods, warming oils, and gentle routines. Let it be a time to listen—really listen—to what your body and heart need.

Because when we align with the rhythms of nature, we find our way home.

Save the Date: Rooted in Autumn Yoga Series

If you're feeling inspired to explore Vata season more deeply, I invite you to join my upcoming Rooted in Autumn Yoga Series. This 4-week series begins on October 29th and offers a gentle, grounding way to embody Ayurvedic wisdom through movement, breath, and seasonal ritual. Registration opens soon—stay tuned!

Also Coming Up: Reiki Restorative Yoga Sundays

For an even deeper sense of grounding, I invite you to experience Reiki Restorative Yoga—a nurturing blend of supported poses, gentle energy work, and deep rest. I’ve added two special Sunday sessions this fall: September 21 and October 19, from 3–4:30 PM. It’s a beautiful way to start your week rooted, rested, and reconnected.

Reiki Restorative Yoga

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Seasonal Mini Consultations

As the seasons shift, it's the perfect time for a gentle check-in. I'm now offering mini Ayurvedic consultations—a chance to pause, reflect, and receive personalized support for staying balanced through autumn and into winter. Whether you're navigating dryness, fatigue, or simply craving a reset, this short session can help you align with the season’s energy and your unique constitution.

Mini Virtual Wellness Session

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Closing Reflections

Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect with me. I hope this post offered a spark of inspiration and a sense of calm as you move into the fall season. Remember, even small steps—like sipping warm tea or taking an evening walk—can bring you back to yourself. If you’re feeling called to deepen your seasonal practices, I’d be honored to support you. Wishing you a season of nourishment, rest, and rooted joy.

With warmth and love,

Jennifer

Madelyn’s First Apple Picking 🍎 One of my most cherished fall traditions is apple picking with my daughter and grandkids. Last year was Madelyn’s first visit to the orchard—little hands holding big apples, wide-eyed wonder, and the beginning of a new family ritual. We’ll be returning again soon, rooted in love and seasonal joy.