3. Drink CCF Tea

A classic Ayurvedic digestive tonic for all seasons but particularly helpful in autumn is CCF tea, made from three seeds: cumin, coriander, and fennel.

CCF Tea Recipe

• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• 2 cups water

Bring the seeds and water to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5–10 minutes. Strain and sip warm. Alternatively, you can also steep the 3 seed blend in boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes, strain, sip, and savor. You may add honey or natural sweetener for added benefits. 

This blend gently stimulates digestion, reduces bloating, and supports the body’s ability to metabolize food efficiently. Drinking CCF tea twice a day, once in the morning before breakfast and again in the evening before bed, can help strengthen digestive capacity and maintain digestive balance as the season becomes cooler and drier.

5. Dress for the Season

Ayurveda and Vedic traditions place great emphasis on dressing in harmony with the rhythms of nature and the cycles of the week. Clothing is not merely functional; it is a way of aligning with cosmic energies.

During autumn, favor warm and vibrant seasonal colors such as reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. These colors mirror the hues of the natural world and help cultivate warmth and vitality.

Layer clothing generously so the body stays comfortably warm throughout the day. When stepping outside, protect the head and ears from cool winds, as these areas are particularly sensitive to Vata aggravation.

Dressing consciously helps maintain internal warmth and stability as the external environment grows cooler and more variable.

Did you know that the Vedic tradition also offers guidance on the colors we wear each day of the week? I was first introduced to this subtle yet beautiful practice by my yoga teacher during the early years of my yoga studies, and it has stayed with me ever since.

In the Vedic worldview, each day of the week is associated with a planetary influence and specific energetic qualities. Dressing in colors that correspond with these cycles is believed to help us attune more consciously to the rhythms of nature and the cosmos.

For example, Mondays invite softer tones such as pearl, beige, or white; Tuesdays are associated with vibrant reds; Wednesdays with greens; Thursdays with shades of yellow or gold; Fridays with pinks and purples; Saturdays with blues, blacks, or greys; and Sundays with radiant sun-like hues.

While it may seem like a small gesture, dressing with seasonal warmth and mindful color can become a quiet ritual—one that gently reminds us that even the simplest aspects of daily life can reflect a deeper harmony with nature’s cycles.

2. Three Minutes of Nadi Shodhana (Purifying Breath)

Nadi Shodhana is a dosha cleansing and deeply balancing pranayama that calms the nervous system and harmonizes the flow of prana.

Sit comfortably and form Vishnu Mudra with the right hand by folding the index and middle fingers inward. Use the thumb to close the right nostril and the ring finger to close the left.

Inhale through the left nostril, then exhale through the right. Inhale through the right, then exhale through the left. Maintain a gentle 1:1 ratio of inhale to exhale to soothe the nervous system.

If nasal congestion is present, this practice can also be done mentally by visualizing the breath alternating between nostrils. For added benefit, apply a small amount of sesame oil just inside the nostrils before practice to encourage smooth, quiet breathing.

4. One minute of Prana Mudra

Prana Mudra is a hand gesture believed to activate dormant energy and support vitality.

To form the mudra, bring the tips of the thumb, ring finger, and little finger together while keeping the index and middle fingers extended. Rest the hands on the knees or thighs while sitting comfortably.

Holding this mudra for one minute several times of the time or holding for several minutes during meditation or pranayama helps harmonize energy levels and enhance the body’s life force.