This is Spring;
Rain soaks our land and the Earth herself seems heavy with moisture while the landscape around us is reawakening.
Spring is the season of rebirth and fresh beginnings. Our physiology senses this as a natural opportunity for renewal and your body is primed to lighten things up & cleanse itself of any accumulation from the winter.
According to Ayurveda, Spring is the season of Kapha. Kapha, just like Spring, embodies a certain heaviness & stagnation because of increased moisture and as a result, tends to feel slow, cool, dense and soft (think mud!).
Ayurveda teaches us that like increases like, so by its very nature, Spring tends to increase Kapha. By winter’s end, a bit of Kapha accumulation is somewhat inevitable. The results? Spring has the potential to bring up feelings of lethargy, heaviness and seasonal allergies.
For a supportive Spring diet, consider these habits:
Start your day with a light breakfast of fresh fruit or tea.
Lunches and dinners of light, cooked grains, steamed vegetables, and legumes.
Drink room temperature, warm, or hot beverages throughout the day.
Eat lots of fresh (but not necessarily raw) vegetables and a variety of legumes.
Eat lots of bitter greens, cabbage family vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), and spicy foods like green chilies.
Freshwater fish, tofu, and poached or hardboiled eggs are also appropriate during Spring.
Include the pungent flavor of onions, garlic, ginger, black pepper, chili pepper, small amounts of cayenne pepper, and an unlimited variety of herbs and spices to your meals.
And for your daily routine, consider this:
Start your mornings by applying a few drops Nasaya Oil or Sesame Seed Oil to your nasal passages. This is especially helpful if you have seasonal allergies.
Make time for exercise or yoga first thing in the morning. This promotes clarity and improved energy.
The nervous system benefits from some sense of routine throughout the day, but Spring is a good time to try something new and embrace a sense of playfulness and adventure.
Dress in bright, warming colors like reds, yellows, and oranges in the early spring, while the weather remains cool and wet.
Go to bed sometime around 11 p.m.
Exercise can also be incredibly supportive in countering the heaviness of the Spring season. Physical activity in general improves circulation, increases heat, and gives you a feeling of lightness—all of which balance Kapha. So, bike, hike, walk, dance ... try include movement in your day.
It’s an especially good time of year to physically push yourself with longer, more intense workouts. An expansive and energetic yoga practice, that is faster-paced and heating will benefit you. All of my yoga classes will be Kapha-inspired in its precision and energy throughout the Spring.
Mostly, listen to your inner wisdom; you know what to do.
Comments