Ayurveda, ‘knowledge of life’ is all about finding balance. This ancient science teaches us how to live in harmony with nature (external environment, the universe) and with our own specific human nature (internal environment, the body, mind and soul).
Living in alignment with the seasons is one of the best ways to help support health and well-being. Ayurveda guides you to tune in and becomes aware of yourself, so you also become aware of nature.
Just as each person has an unique constitution that matches up with different aspects of nature, each time of day and each season is also governed by a particular dosha – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Spring is a time of birth, new beginnings, sense of renewal, growth, sprouting, full of colors, warmth, beginning to soften, mildness, gentle rains, moisture in the earth, heaviness of increased moisture, and feeling still slower than summer or fall. Spring is related to the elements of earth and water. The steadiness of earth and flow of water create a foundation for new life to begin.
Due to springtime warmth, any accumulated or stagnated Kapha in our body starts to liquefy and run out of the body, just like accumulated snow or ice from winter begins to melt and the earth begins to blossom. We generally feel energised as we emerge from winter, and it is good time for gardening, looking at the beauty of flower blooming and listening to birds singing. However, spring season is also associated with colds, congestion, hay fever, and allergies.
By adapting your diet and lifestyle to accommodate the changing seasons, you can reduce any seasonally induced imbalances. Adapting your seasonal routine on a day-to-day basis is a beautiful way to honor the subtle variations within the season. Here are tips living in harmony with spring.
Ayurvedic tips in spring:
Spring is the best time for bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.
Favour wholegrain, oatmeal, basmati rice, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, ghee, sweet potato, heating vegetables like radish, onion, garlic, cauliflower, kale, leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, celery, chard, leek, green beans, root vegetables like beets, carrots, squash, well-cooked legumes (mung beans, lentils), non-heated honey, warming spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mustard seeds, apple, pomegranate,
Follow Kapha pacifying diet, meaning favour a warm, cooked, well-spiced, light, easily-digestable food. Avoid food which has heavy, oily, dense, cold qualities such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, pastry, sweets, salted butter, can food, processed, frozen food.
Avoid cold water or iced water, cold food.
Sip hot water, drink warming herbal teas such as ginger, cumin, fennel, cinnamon, clove, black pepper to stimulate the digestion. Tulsi tea removes excess kapha from the upper respiratory tract.
Use small amount of raw honey as a sweetener. Honey is Kapha pacifying and has a heating property. Please do not cook with honey, or heat honey.
Spring is the best time to incorporate light and cleansing food into your diet. Try Kitchari – mung beans and rice porridge, which is wholesome, easy to digest and detoxifying the entire system. For Kitchari recipe, click here.
Avoid eating a large, heavy breakfast and dinner.
Avoid snacking between meals.
Do regular yoga, pranayama and meditation. Sun salutation is ideal as it builds up heat, works all the major muscles and encourages circulation throughout the body. Kapalabhati and Bhastrika are both beneficial especially in spring.
Regular exercise to keep the circulation and lymph moving preventing congestion, and to increase the heat in the body and create a feeling of ‘lightness’ to balance the heavy qualities of Kapha. Active exercise such as hiking, jogging, light weightlifting are all good to burn up any excess Kapha.
Wake up by 6am-6:30am at the latest.
Go for a morning walk.
Add nasya (Ayurvedic nasal drops) to your morning routine to prevent hay fever, soothe sinus congestion and promote mental clarity. Ask Rieko for details.
Keep warm and dry.
Avoid day sleeping as this will increase Kapha, Tamas (dull quality) in mind, making you feel heavy and sluggish, and weaken your digestive capacity.
Do self-massage (Abhyanga) with warm black sesame oil or sunflower oil and take a warm shower.
Use aromatherapy oils that are penetrating, stimulating, warming aroma; eg. jasmine, fennel, lavender, lemongrass, lime/lemon, rosemary, holy basil (tulsi), myrrh, eucalyptus, camphor, calamus, frankincense etc.
Stay balanced this spring by adjusting diet and lifestyle.
～ Om Shri Dhanvantre Namah – Mantra for good health and healing ～
Rieko is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, professional member of Australasian Association of Ayurveda, and certified yoga teacher. Feel free to be in touch for your questions, health consultation bookings or how Ayurveda and Yoga can help achieving your wellness goals. Ayurvedic health consultations and treatments are available at 74 Mount Barker Road, Stirling or Rostrevor.
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