Navigating the Spring Season with Ayurveda
Feb 27, 2020 | Written by Leticia Padmasri
I have been waiting and waiting and now I can finally see the hopeful signs of spring! The earth is awakening once again. The trees are coming back from hibernation, pollen is increasing, daffodils are popping up, and insects are starting to buzz... The rain makes the land soggy and muddy. The combination of moisture and dust brings a heavy quality to the earth and our body senses it is time to lighten up.
A couple blogs ago, we learned that winter is a kapha season with strong vata influence. Spring though is a distinctly kapha season–the earth and water dosha. The Sanskrit word “kapha” means ‘that which flourishes in water’. Clearly, the spring season and kapha dosha have a lot in common, both are well defined by the presence of water. In late winter, we can already observe the changes with snow melting and rain arriving. As water increases in the environment, it also increases in our body and mind, and makes us feel soggier than in other seasons.
Many of us arrive at this time of the year feeling heavier and more sluggish, especially if we didn’t follow the seasonal lifestyle changes, and overindulged on heavy foods during the winter months. The result is that we can feel lethargic when the world around us starts blossoming. Colds, headaches, allergies, and upset stomachs are common complaints of this season.
A basic premise of Ayurveda is to adjust our diet and activities with the change of the seasons. The best way that you can protect your well-being is to make lifestyle choices that counterbalance the potential for seasonally induced imbalances. If you’re missing the gifts this season has to offer, here are some general recommendations that can help to overcome spring’s challenges while promoting optimal health, so that we can truly celebrate the earth’s awakening!
Diet
Notice that the land is already giving us different foods. Eat them! Pay close attention to your body. You may notice your appetite decreasing and a need for fruit and fresh vegetables. It is your body telling you it is time to cleanse and let go of the winter diet. In Ayurveda, this is the king of seasons–the official time for cleansing and detoxification. Consider trying a cleanse. There are many ways to detox -- from spending weeks at an Ayurvedic clinic to a one-day home cleansing. They are all kind and gentle and the home ones are easily done with a little guidance. But you also can support your body’s natural desire to purify and renew by reducing the intake of heavy and oily foods; favoring the pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes; and eating warm, light foods that are relatively easy to digest. Use spices such as fresh ginger, black pepper, and cinnamon to bolster digestive strength.
Exercise
Use the renewing energy that nature brings with this season and cleanse the body from the winter’s hibernation. It is time to remove the gunk! In the earlier, cooler morning hours before 10 am, engage in brisk physical movement such as jogging, hiking, or cycling.
Clear the air passages
Kapha accumulated in the body and mind will bring inflammation and excess mucus. Use a nasal wash or neti pot every day upon awakening. After your neti wash, rub 3 to 5 drops of sesame oil into your nostrils. This will keep your sinuses clean and reduce bacterial growth.
Another excellent practice for keeping the sinuses clean is kapalabhati, the skull-shining breath. This pranayama (yogic breathing practice) will oxygenate the blood and bring a sense of lightness to the body. This is a cleansing and invigorating practice. And remember, because of the power and subtlety of these practices, it is recommended to practice pranayama under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher.
Hatha Yoga and Meditation
Favor a more vigorous and dynamic hatha practice. Increasing the rounds of sun salutations is a good idea to support the elimination of any accumulated kapha and can help bring lightness to the body. The meditation focus should be on letting go of emotional attachment and countering mental stagnation and lethargy. Repeating mantras such as OM, AIM, and KRIM will support this. Check out Yogaville to see if I’m offering my Taking Ayurveda to Mat workshop if you would like to learn how to tailor your practice according to the doshas, I offer it once a year .
When we know how to synchronize with the natural changes in our environment, we can boost our energy, immunity, and resilience-- protecting our body and mind from the imbalances that are characteristics of each season. These are simply general guidelines. It is important that you tend to your current state of balance/imbalance while also making adjustments to stay in tune with the cycles of nature. Getting an individualized assessment can further refine your springtime routine to more specifically support your body type and will help you flourish during all seasons. I offer consultations in person or via phone, Skype or FaceTime.