October Opulence

Hello Lovely Beings,

Happy October blessings to you as we head into the Autumnal feels and the letting go of summer vibes, lets look to bringing out the woolly socks & comfy jumpers and a little sneak peek dipping the toe in to Christmas time wonder. Treatments are a lot more toasty at this time of year with the heated blanket, hot towels and, soon to be in use, log burner in the studio space. If you are Ayurvedically minded it’s the dosha of Vata that governs this season made up of the elements air and ether so think leaves falling, windy days and a sense of movement as everything changes going inwards as days shorten and temperatures drop.

 
Things to soothe in Autumn to aid transition into Winter:

• Get outside daily, look at the sky, stay out as long as you can, watch sunrises and sunsets.
• Go to bed a little earlier, rise with the sun, try not setting an alarm and see when you naturally wake.
• Up your immunity, to keep up health – take tonics, add in:

*Blackberries * Blueberries * Fresh Oregano * Thyme * Sage * Turmeric * Ginger * Lemons * Limes*
*And up your veggies and pulses in stews and soup*

• Drink warm water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Bring the outside in – Collect cones, acorns & conkers to make displays and flower arrangements from evergreen branches, dried flowers, and grasses.
• Abhyanga – Self massage the whole body to keep nourished, moist, lubricated, and healthy include the scalp and hair if you don’t mind feeling a little greasy.
• Have a 3/5 or 7-day gentle cleanse and detox to clear some toxins and give the body a recharge – Take out:

*Sugar * Alcohol * Caffeine * Rich foods*
*Sip hot lemon and water, Eat a mono diet of kitchiri, dhals & Stews, with lots of veggies and stewed fruit*

• Light lots of candles and fires (see later in newsletter for one of my favourite things) to keep feelings of light in side and if Autumn is not your favoured season invest in a SAD lamp and get as much fresh air as possible.

 
Next year I am planning a gentle spring cleanse and Autumn cleanse with yoga and meditation, as a little self-care home retreat, so do let me know if this is something you are interested in.

Heading into Autumn there is a lot of transition within our internal world, our physical body, how we feel as well as the external changes in daylight hours, weather and daily routines, if you fancy a read on more Ayurveda and a holistic approach to Autumn have a read of my blog here.

For more interesting stuff and if you feel in need of a change up, whether physically, mentally, dietary, or just feeling stuck in a rut, an Ayurvedic self-care consultation can be useful and healing to shift things up. An in-person consultation is recommended but can be done on line also if distance is a problem.

We can feel a little scattered and rushed as we try to fit in the same amount, rather than slowing down, with the balance of light and dark changing. So, replenishing treatments of massage to keep the muscles supple, relax the fascia and move the energy, whilst switching off the mind, are highly beneficial. Richer blends of sunflower oil and sesame oil with this week’s favourite oils being:

*Cedarwood * Sweet orange * and *Ginger*

 All help grounding, centring, and balancing, whilst also giving a lift to feel energised. Most treatments include a finishing off on the head, as minds have gotten a little busy with doing, but also with having constant access to phones, googling, buying, updating, and scrolling.

We recently were on a retreat (www.presspauseyogaretreats.com) in Dymchurch and would highly recommend if you would like some: Yoga, Spiritual work, Delicious food & Sea swimming.

We were encouraged to switch off our phones for the whole weekend, which sounded a real challenge to start with. I left mine in the room the whole weekend and only checked in the morning & last thing at night. Only then, it was to check that the Animals, House & Daughter in charge, were all still in order and it felt very liberating. Give it a go and see what you notice…But anyway, I digress, I had noticed how busy heads were, or had become, since we restarted emerging after covid –  So the scalp, head, temples, and forehead are all treated, as the brain runs the show and it allows for a deeper relaxation. There are some bookings left for October and more coming up in November if you are feeling stretched, stressed or just want some time for yourself.