Seasonal Self-Care Rituals: Eat, Breathe, Move, and Sleep Better―According to Your Dosha

by Susan Weis-Bohlen

Reap the health benefits of Ayurveda and optimize your seasonal habits with powerful, personalized self-care rituals to achieve permanent weight loss, increased focus, and emotional wellness.

According to the ancient texts of Ayurveda, “All diseases begin at the junctions of the seasons.” When we push against the essence of each season—staying up late in the winter, eating sweet, heavy foods in the spring, or neglecting our skin in the summer—we fall out of sync with nature and optimal health.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Chopra-certified teacher Susan Weis-Bohlen guides readers through simple yet profoundly effective, dosha-specific remedies and rituals—including food & drink, meditation, yoga, essential oils, chakra alignment, mantra, and breath work—to support your ideal body weight, increased focus and mental clarity, a healthier microbiome, improved stamina, better sleep, and emotional wellness.

Featuring an all-new new dosha quiz measuring both mind and body constitution—Seasonal Self-Care Rituals is an essential guide to year-round health.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality

208 pages, Hardcover

Published December 29, 2020

About the author

SUSAN WEIS-BOHLEN is a certified Ayurvedic consultant and writing teacher. She is the author of the best-selling Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally (Althea Press), and Seasonal Self-Care Rituals: Eat, Breathe, Sleep, and Move Better According to Your Dosha (Simon Element). Her latest book is from Quarto, The Beginner's Guide to Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Ancient Healing for Modern Life. Susan has studied with many Ayurvedic teachers including Deepak Chopra, Dr. Vasant Lad, and Amadea Morningstar. Susan served on the board of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) from 2017-2023. She travels regularly to India, introducing Ayurveda to hundreds of people over the years. Susan is also a certified teacher of the Gateless Writing method and leads writing salons and retreats. She lives in Reisterstown with her husband Larry, and their dogs Ella and Joonie.

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our family lives very seasonally in that our rhythms and diets are completely different in each season, so I am always drawn to books that promise seasonal rituals and recipes. I didn't realize this one would be almost completely centered around Ayurveda and basics about how to live seasonally according to your dosha (type). The author goes into a brief intro about the doshas and how they correspond to the seasons (three for Ayurveda -- fall and early winter, late winter and spring, summer). There's a short test to determine the dosha you were born under and what you are now. Then each season is given a chapter with basic information like what foods are recommended that in some ways transcend Ayurveda and are commonly accepted (like eating spices to warm you up in the cold winter and cold foods to balance your heat in the summer) with specific lists of spices, veggies, meats, etc. for each season. There's some basic information like giving yourself an oil massage before bathing but I really didn't find many "rituals" that were promised or anything new for me personally. Those who are interested in learning more about Ayurveda and how to apply it to their lives over the year may find it very helpful.

I read a digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us have been practicing self-care over the last year while in lockdown trying to soothe ourselves from the new stresses we’ve experienced because of COVID. Maybe it’s a daily skincare routine, dieting, clean eating, yoga, or any other fitness routine that fits into our lives.

For me, I’ve been practicing yoga for about 13 years now, get my monthly Birchbox delivery for skincare, and have been meditating every day to get through this new routine. It’s hard with everyone in the house, working from home, and taking care of all the other normal daily rituals to keep the house in order, but one thing I’ve learned is that it’s necessary to take time for yourself. Maybe you don’t know where or how to start and that’s where this book comes in.

You’ll learn new techniques to stay sane, get healthy by eating better, and most importantly turning inward to find what works for you. You don’t have to do everything this book suggests but you will find something that works for you.

[Deme · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an introduction to the three different doshas and the various things we need to pay attention to if we want to keep each dosha in balance per season. I got the impression this was a beginner's guide to the doshas but there was still missing information to be able to fully understand the doshas. I had loads of questions that were not answered in this book. It might be that this book is more for people who already have an understanding of the doshas; potential readers should keep that in mind.

The author misses out on fully explaining the doshas at the beginning of the book however, I thought she did a good job of describing the different areas that the reader can improve to be more aligned with his dosha. The recipes at the end were nice to have, however, I would have liked some more explanations as to why certain foods were better for a certain dosha. I needed more research and studies to be mentioned to fully be on board with what the author was saying.

Overall, the book definitely sparked my interest in the doshas and I am looking forward to doing some research on the matter.

[Mandy Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

How frustrating is it to be told by all the different sources the things you must do to be successful in life? This book definitely does NOT do that. It instead takes an empathetic approach and gives bite size approaches and allows you to have kindness and patience with yourself when dealing with life. This is so necessary for everyone to read in life. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Meagan Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting read to dip your toes into easy Ayurvedic health practices!!! Teaching you how to live seasonally depending on your needs!

[Joy Matteson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially in this liminal space of time we're all living in, more are looking for rituals that match the seasons. I appreciated this short look into Ayurveda and how season-specific rituals can help us live our best selves. Sometimes it just seems like common sense, but it's also rather liberating at times. Why yes, it IS normal to put on more pounds in the winter season--the squirrels do, you don't see THEM body shaming, do you? OKAY THEN. I can see myself picking up this book again during the spring or summer to reflect on new rituals in transitory periods.

[Rather.be.reading1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I think everyone can always take away one useful thing from a self-help book and that is why I always enjoy them so much. In 2020 I think its even more important to practice self-care even more. I also really enjoyed the added Appendices for more information.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for wanting to live more seasonally and would find this way easy for them. Things to do or make in each season.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to say I love the author's voice. You can tell that she is very passionate and knowledgeable about this subject. I really appreciate that sources are referenced, as this is not a standard in new age or spiritual books and SHOULD be.

I did not purchase this book to learn about Ayurveda but rather to learn more about eating in season. This book certainly does touch on that but know a large portion of the book is dedicated to Ayurveda

My one fault with this book is the editing. The most egregious error I've found in my copy is the word "sixteen" spelled "sxiteen" on page 45--hopefully they have corrected this in later copies. There are other notable errors as well.

[Livia R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book doesn’t steer the reader wrong, it’s pretty straightforward in that it gives exactly what the title says: a guide of eating, sleeping, living according to your Dosha. If you don’t know what Dosha is - it’s pretty much your body constitution in traditional indian medicine. I think for a beginner like me in Ayurveda this book is a great companion and guide but it’s nothing groundbreaking I would say. Much of the info was borrowed from old books. I would’ve loved for the author to share more of her personal experience. That being said I still like it and I would use it in my journey of living an ayurvedic holistic living.

[Joy Matteson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially in this liminal space in time we're all living in, more are looking for rituals that match the seasons. I appreciated this short look into Ayurveda and how season specific rituals can help us live our best selves. Sometimes it just seems like common sense, but it's also rather liberating at times. Why yes, it IS normal to put on more pounds in the winter season--the squirrels do, you don't see THEM body shaming, do you? OKAY THEN. I can see myself picking up this book again during the spring or summer to reflect on new rituals in transitory periods.

[Wolf Fortenberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m truly glad I got this book on sale for only $5 (instead of $24 for the original retail price), and at the same time, I am disappointed that I wasted $5 on this book. This is one of the VERY few books I just decide to quit reading and not bother finishing. There are a few good nuggets I found, but it hasn’t been enough for me to want to continue reading. The writing is very choppy and incoherent. I often found myself asking “what am I reading?” throughout this book.

In my opinion, it’s not worth the time or the money.

[Alicia Velice · Rating 5 out of 5]

a lovely little book that goes over some of the things you can do for your body according to your Dosha. it is Ayurvedic based.
I am a Kapha. This little book goes into Kapha's personality when well and unwell, or as they put it balanced and unbalanced. The author does this for each Dosha. I am kind of tempted to order it since I got it out of the library. But I also have a lot of other books on this subject, so might not do that.
I am a firm believer that everything helps and that the final goal is ease in the body one has.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may come back to this one, but shelving for now. I find the idea of the Ayuverda interesting but am unsure how much I buy in. This book has some interesting information and is well written, but having a difficult time getting through some of the suggestions for eating habits. Guess diet culture is thousands of years old too.

[M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aryuveda 💩 sandwich…

I have read worse books that I ended up giving a higher rating.

This book gives a lot of great advice however the amount of (self-)harmful advice mixed into the book is disturbing. I would not let my children read this book nor would I recommend it to young adults. Read this with caution and cherry pick what works for you.

[Kelly Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from goodreads.

I am not that familiar with Ayurveda, however it is something that I've been interested in lately. I think this was a good introduction. It was easy to read and understand, and it provided some good advice on living healthier lifestyle.

[Miranda Gali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but took me a little while to get through and digest! I think I’m Kapha Dosha. This book does have some cool recipes and self-care practices in the back of the book im gonna take pictures of to keep on hand!

[Kerri Lukasavitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Ayurveda and understanding the necessary lifestyle changes to add for each season.

[isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good way to introduce yourself to the concept of seasonal living. Not too much info but informative enough

[Roma Wankhade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cool. It so interesting how so much goes into our diets, energy levels, and overall energy. I definitely want to start implementing more practices I read in this book in my life.

[Kelly Schulze · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the arc but an about 20% into the book and I felt like this could’ve just been a blog post on goop and didn’t need to be a full fledged book.