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If you ever wonder what your skin type is and chose as dry, sensitive, oily, combination or congested –
think again! Our skin is porous, which means that it is constantly being affected by environmental,
psychological, emotional, and chemical stress from the stuff we put into our skin. Environmental
pollution plays a huge role for people living or working where there is smog, radiation, string winds,
debris, or humid climates. While psychological and emotional stress have a direct impact on our skin,
believe it or not. When we are under emotional stress (be it a sad news, or stressful work environment,
or being a caretaker, or a new mom as a few examples), there is a physical and chemical change in our
bodies with shortening of our telomeres, and signs of aging including premature graying of hair,
wrinkles, dark circles, dull complexion, acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, cellulite, weight gain, or weight
loss, hair loss, brittle nails. Chemical stress can be a result of using too many harsh chemicals on your
face and body including the hand soaps. Our skin likes products at a pH of 5-7. When we use sulfate-
based shampoos, hand soaps, bar soaps on our skin, we are stripping moisture from or skin which can
have an adverse effect leading to dry, and sensitive skin more prone to atopic dermatitis, acne, and
rosacea.
So, going back to the question about determining our skin type. You must know your current state of
physical, emotional, psychological and environmental imbalances on your skin. In my next blog I will be
talking about how to determine these imbalances. Stay tuned!

What does Autumn mean to our dosha?

With autumn comes beautiful and vibrant changes in color, but also brings dry, and windy weather. This is also how in principal the Vata dosha qualities are: dry, rough, erratic, cool, unstable, creative –  so autumn is considered a vata season.

Ayurveda teaches us that like increases like, so autumn tends to increase vata, especially if vata is predominant in your constitution. 

Applying the Ayurvedic principle that opposite actions create balance, you can maintain balance during the vata season by emphasizing lifestyle and food choices that are grounding, stabilizing, warming, moisturizing and softening.  You can stay calm and connected in this whirlwind season with a consistent practice that includes nourishing and protective measures. Ayurveda promotes simple and regular routines as having a deeper effect on balancing vata than an ‘as needed’ approach.

Many different factors disturb Vata including stress, excess activity, strenuous exercise, constant travel, improper diet, the season of autumn, and especially an overly irregular routine

Best oils to apply: Sesame oil, Olive oil, Sweet Almond oil and Essential oils of Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Cedarwood (Atlas) (Cedrus atlantica), Tulsi (Holy Basil, Ocimum sanctum), Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), Myrrh Commiphora myrrha) and Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

Warm Abhyanga Massage with sesame oil will have a balancing effect and eating warm foods will also be beneficial to Vata doshas.