Ayurvedic Storm Prep

Many of us in the United States are making one last frenzied effort to prepare for a huge winter storm that has already started impacting the middle of the country and is moving east today.

I’m always moved when Mother Nature mounts such an impressive spectacle, a visceral reminder of her infinite power. I admit that a small part of me quietly cheers her on – “you go, girl. Remind us who You are.”

This is not to make light of the real danger such a storm wields. We must take necessary precautions to keep our homes, families, neighbors, and communities safe. 

From an Ayurveda perspective, we can expect a massive storm like this to be Vata-aggravating. The serious cold is the first clue, but also the disruption to our normal routines. Vata aggravation can make us feel even more anxious, distracted, and frazzled, but also more physically in pain and literally colder.

So after we have battened down the hatches around our homes, here are some additional ideas to help us protect our Vata and inner calm today.

1) Prepare a cozy room - a room in the house where you can stay relatively warm if the power goes out. (If possible, heat the room with a space heater in advance so it takes more time to cool down if the power goes out.) Gather extra blankets, pillows, sweaters, even coats. Think through nesting spots for any other beings who may need to pile in and keep warm - add chairs, dog beds, pillow piles, a card table, battery powered flashlights and CANDLES (don't forget the matches).

2) Do an Abhyanga oil massage, followed by a warm shower while you still have hot water and heat. This will pay off dividends later, shoring up your nervous system buffer.

3) Wear a hat indoors - not only to keep warm, but to pacify vata by covering the crown of the head. This actually helps keep the mind calm and the nerves soothed. Vata also concentrates in the ears, so keep them warm with a scarf, headband, or ear muffs.

4) Drink hot herbal tea all day - anything you have on hand is great. Staying warm and hydrated is always powerfully supportive when stress or vata run high, and heating up from the inside out is very effective.

5) Connect with neighbors. Especially check in with any elderly or less mobile folks in your neighborhood. Maybe you’ve never met them, but be brave and go knock on a few doors. Just say you’re checking in to make sure they have everything they need, and let them know you are around. This may seem to be oriented to helping THEM, but I promise it will also make you feel better, more connected, more insulated against the disconnection and apathy that is a huge threat globally right now. A storm like this is an opportunity for us to remember we are actually part of a very human community.

6) Then come on back home and make a pot of delicious soup with all those groceries we just bought (preferably vegan so it can happily sit out without risk for a day if necessary). I’m making my favorite Kabocha Coconut Dal (but substituting acorn squash and chard for the kabocha and spinach! Use what you've got and come experiment with me a little).

7) Get excited to be off screens! Consider this a time for retreat, and gather books, magazines, your journal, sketchbook, jigsaw puzzles, art supplies, musical instruments, or reading material you’ve been dreaming of diving into. Download any audio or ebooks to your device for offline viewing or listening (if you have a power bank). Print any reference documents you might need (I’m learning to play the harmonium (!) so I printed the worksheet I’m on.) Get supplies together to make a vision board. Prepare for a snuggly inward-oriented retreat.