We are in autumn. A beautiful season, of which even John Donne, the 16th century English poet and clergyman, said: ‘Neither the beauty of spring nor the beauty of summer has the gracefulness that I saw in an autumn’ – What does autumn bring to our skin and our well-being?

I’m outdoors a lot, and I try not to miss the transitions between the seasons, which for example from summer to autumn can be less pleasant for many people than, say, from winter to spring or from spring to summer. There is a chill, a breeze and with it a dryness. Just as the dry leaves fall from the trees, so the dryness of this time of year affects us.

According to Ayurveda, this is the period of vata dosha, which is inherently mobile, swinging, even changeable, which means that vata people are already a bit more active-minded, and if autumn brings a bit more of that, they can quickly become nervous or even anxious, the extra stress can affect their sleep (the lack of which of course shows up externally), and their already quite dry skin can become even more dehydrated. Of course, other types – pitta doshas and kapha doshas – may also experience an excess of vata in autumn, but this is likely to be less stressful than for vata persons.

An Ayurvedic counsellor can tell you which dosha you are, but there are also some tests and descriptions online that will give you a quick sense of which characteristics of each dosha you prefer. Well, perhaps one more thing about the vata doshas is that vata-types are usually slender in stature, their bones are fragile, and their fingers, hair and skin are also dry. They also tend to be creative types who are quick on the uptake but also like to forget. In short, all the characteristics that accompany the vata dosha are all the more pronounced with the onset of autumn, so it is worth paying a little more attention.

Yet autumn is also exceptionally, exceptionally beautiful. It’s when nature returns to its tranquillity, when we meet moorhens in the woods, hedgehogs fall from chestnut trees, feel the dry breeze on our faces, and our hair is curled by the damp air. Even if the temperatures may not be the most inviting for outdoor yoga, autumn is certainly a great time for a run through the dirt and stubble or a walk in the park. Not only because it would be a sin to miss out on the beauty of this season – even a light shower can be quite pleasant if we embrace it (and dress appropriately, of course, so we don’t get too wet or too cold!) – but also because we’re more likely to stay resilient, healthy and even mentally alert than if we’re already barricaded between four walls.

If some of us were protected from colds as children by preferring to play and stay indoors during the autumn and winter months, it was actually the cold that came earlier once the child, so “protected”, stepped outdoors. I mention this because there may still be an ingrained urge in many people today not to go outside when the weather gets colder unless it is absolutely necessary.

But being outdoors is as natural as eating breakfast in the morning (I hope you enjoy it, no!). After all, we are part of nature too! When I say that autumn can also be a challenging season with its (vata) characteristics, we can of course manage that perfectly well, with healthy routines like going to bed by 10pm. (enough sleep, that is), by eating healthy foods suitable for the season (no cold drinks and no dry foods – autumn is already quite dry and cold, so we prefer stews and herbal teas), massages and essential oil baths will also be great for us at this time of year, and especially – and I’m not writing this because it’s a blog on the NANU beauty site, but because it’s very true! – a loving beauty routine.

A beauty routine to show ourselves that we respect ourselves and are grateful for our bodies, minds and souls. With a friendly “self-touch”, we will caress all three.

And let’s not forget – shutting yourself in between four walls just because it’s a little colder outside than it was a week, two or three ago is not the best choice when you’re looking after your own wellbeing. But taking a decisive step into nature, taking a deep look at its beauty and taking a deep breath of fresh air is. Because we are part of nature!

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Title image by Franc Žlahtič – Told with Exposure