Q – Please could tell me what Ayurveda-based practices, including diet and lifestyle recommendations, can help us balance vata, which can bring about dryness, anxiety, and fatigue?

L. Taylor, London

A – in Ayurveda, vata season (i.e., around September) is associated with dryness and an irregular, scattered energy. To balance vata, focus on warm, moist, and grounding foods, such as soups, stews, and cooked root vegetables. Avoid raw, dry, or cold foods that may increase vata imbalance. Warm herbal teas like ginger or cinnamon can also help soothe the digestive system. In your yoga practice, embrace poses that offer stability, such as Mountain Pose (Tadasana) or Wide-Legged Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana), to calm and ground the nervous system. Consider using sesame oil for self-massage to hydrate the skin. You may also consider almond which is a pleasant oil as well.