What your nervous system needs this month
Welcome to September!!
It’s one of my favorite months, maybe because it’s my birthday month, or maybe because we’re finally moving out of the heat of summer into cooler temps, cozy sweaters, and the trees showing off their brilliant colors. I seriously love it. Honestly, I’d live in fall all year round.
According to Ayurveda, this is the time of year when we transition from Pitta season to Vata season.
Pitta heats up the body, and that internal heat can dry you out. Vata itself is dry, so moving from one drying season into another means we’re even more prone to imbalance. Too much dryness = too much Vata.
Too much Vata often shows up as anxiety and fear, the exact states so many of us are trying to move away from.
That’s why during this seasonal shift it’s so important to hydrate, moisturize, and give your system some extra nourishment.
Here are a few simple ways to do that:
Water, water, water. Make sure you’re drinking enough. If you tend toward dryness and dehydration, aim for at least a liter of water first thing in the morning. (Signs this might be you: anxiety, constipation, dry/itchy skin, or insomnia.) For best absorption, drink your water at room temperature—no ice, sorry!—and try adding a pinch of good sea salt to help your body retain it.
Abhyanga (self-oil massage). This Ayurvedic practice is deeply moisturizing and grounding. Ideally, you warm the oil and give yourself a gentle massage, but honestly? Just getting the oil on your body makes a huge difference. You can use coconut, sesame, or olive oil from your kitchen, or check out my detailed Abhyanga guide for instructions and recommended oils.
Juicy summer fruits. Think peaches, watermelon, and other watery fruits. They’re cooling for these final hot days of summer. Ayurveda recommends eating fruit on its own, between meals, to help with digestion.
Slow it down. Pitta energy can be fiery and intense, while Vata moves fast. Both can fuel a racing mind, restlessness, and fatigue. As the seasons shift, check in with your body often: How do I feel? What do I need right now? Daily yoga nidra, moments of gratitude, or simply feeling your feet on the earth are all wonderful ways to slow down and reconnect.
All of these practices calm and regulate the nervous system, which is at the heart of everything I do with my clients. Whether we’re working on motherhood, grief, trauma, money, or the everyday experience of anxiety, my #1 goal is to help people find more peace, ease, and relaxation.
When your nervous system knows how to move fluidly between states—and then return to the parasympathetic system (also called safe and social or rest and digest)—life feels steadier, softer, and more joyful.
So as we head into fall, start giving your body and mind the care they need. Your future self (and your nervous system) will thank you.
PS-When you feel safe in your body, you can finally feel safe with money. That’s the heart of my Awakened Wealth work: regulation first, so the abundance can flow. Find out more about the Awakened Wealth program HERE.
