Āyurveda for Spring

When Winter moves into Spring and we have the big melt off, kapha dosha gets aggravated. 

Kapha is also called shleshma, which mean mucous. You get the picture.

When the ice starts melting outside,  kapha dosha gets aggravated on the inside and that means more mucous in the belly, one of the main seats of kapha, and the head, another main sthana, or place. Even those who don’t tend to be mucous-y, feel more congestion, headaches or inflammation in the sinus cavity.  Coupled with the Spring flowers and Trees releasing their pollens, our heads can feel heavy, our sinuses plugged and our appetites dulled (watered down or cold). Spring colds, allergies, and digestive distress can follow. 

Another dosha that gets disturbed during the Spring transition (any transition) is vata. Hot one day, snowing the next; winds, rains and then dryness, all of this irregularity aggravates vata and disrupts our circadian rhythm. Sleep, appetite and mood can all suffer.

Āyurveda treats this with gentle cleansing. By taking a week to lighten the diet, and attend to stabilizing those rhythms connected to sleep and hunger, with some extra TLC for the ears, nose, throat and gut, we can support the release of excess kapha, ground and stabilize vata, and emerge feeling lighter, brighter and more calm all at the same time.

Find our more and register for this season's spring cleanse here.

When seasons shift, it's natural to fall out of rhythm and feel a bit discombobulated as our bodies react to the external changes. Here are some specific shifts you can make to support your transition this season.

DIET: Make it a little lighter overall. Include more of the green vegetables coming up now. Especially good are dandelion greens, collards and kale. Here's a simple recipe to make these taste great. Enjoy local organic berries as they become available. Enjoy artichokes. Bitter spices such as turmeric, and roots like burdock will support your liver.

LIFESTYLE: Sinus care is important now. Consider using your neti pot weekly or more followed by daily oiling of your sinus passages with a little oil on your clean little finger. The salt water rinse keeps removes excess mucous and keeps things clear, while the oil lubricates so your nasal passages don't dry out.

ĀSANA: Chest openers, prone back-bends, twists and abdominal work like agni sara and nauli will help release excess mucous, open the lungs and support healthy digestion and emotional balance.

MEDITATION: 6 – 24 minutes once or twice a day. Set a timer. Prepare by relaxing your entire body from head to toe and practicing some abdominal breathing for a few minutes. Slowly release control of your breath, while maintaining your focus on the sensation of breathing in your lower belly. If you want more support, try counting your breaths up to 10. If you lose count, start over. Inhale 1, exhale 2…Calms, stabilizes and grounds the mind.

PRĀŅAYĀMA: Fast breathing: kapalabhati and bhastrika are very good right now for stimulating the abdomen, and clearing the lungs and head. Start with kapalabhati, actively exhaling while drawing your abdomen towards your spine, followed by a passive inhale. Start with 36 pumps, and add more until you can continue for 108 pumps, followed by a resting breath and then holding the breath our for as long as you can comfortably.

We'll be exploring all of this and more in the Spring Cleanse beginning April 6th. I'd be honored to support you.

Enjoy your Spring refresh in whatever form it takes. You deserve it!

Love, Shannon