Yoga & Ayurveda Blog

Spring is a season of new beginnings, renewal, and growth. A natural opportunity for a fresh start is sensed by our physiology; our bodies long for lightening things up, cleansing ourselves of any accumulated imbalances, and rejuvenate. In nature and in us, there’s a renewed sense of joy and inspiration. But beware, we may also be more likely to catch a cold or flu… Here are some tips to help you stay balanced, warm and dry during Kapha season.

 

Digestion

In Ayurveda it is taught that health and wellbeing depends upon our ability to digest everything we take in from the environment. During Kapha season, digestion tends to be sluggish, so to help stimulate agni (digestive fire):

- Try eating a ginger bite before lunch or dinner: slice a thin piece of fresh ginger root (peeled); sprinkle with lemon juice and salt, and eat it about 15 minutes before a meal.

- Be sure to remain seated for 5 to 10 minutes after you finish eating in order to give your digestion a chance to start processing the meal.

- Also, drinking room temperature, warm, or hot beverages throughout the day.

 

Diet

We can notice an increasing preference for lighter foods. We may find ourselves craving fruit, fresh vegetables, and salads. This is our body’s way of telling us that it’s time for some spring-cleaning. In fact, under the care of an ayurvedic practitioner, this is a perfect time for a cleanse. But we can support our bodies’ need to purify simply by:

- eating warm, light, dry foods that are relatively easy to digest: lots of fresh vegetables (not necessarily raw) and various legumes. Less heavy veggies (avocados, cucumbers, sweet potatoes etc), more bitter greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. These days I’ve enjoyed starting the day with a light breakfast of tea and fresh fruit (for example apples lightly cooked in ghee with seeds and raisins). Lunches and dinners with light, cooked grains, steamed vegetables, and legumes are good choices.

- cutting down on refined sugars. Instead, we can have raw, unheated honey, as honey has the ability to reduce Kapha (be sure not to heat your honey and only add it to hot drinks when they are at “sipping temperature”).

- eating dairies in moderation, as it encourages congestion. Cows milk can be replaced by almond milk, at this season particularly. Or we can have for example cottage cheese if we sprinkle pepper or cumin over it to help our body digest it better.

 

Lifestyle

- Early to bed, early to rise, everyday. It will help maintain health and balance. The sun sets the rhythm! As spring progresses, it’s rising earlier and earlier. But if we are waking up after the sun rises, during the Kapha time of the morning (6:00 am-10:00 am), we will feel sluggish and tired all day, and this can result in the build-up of impurities (ama), which can favor congestion or allergies.

- Try to exercise every morning. Getting some good, brisk exercise during the Kapha time of the morning (6:00 – 10:00am) will help maintain a healthy balance; enjoy a nice walk or jogg outside, or even better an energizing and proper yoga asana practice!

 

We are all different, and the specifics of a springtime routine will vary from one person to another. But we all can benefit by simply aligning our internal rhythms with those of the Nature surrounding us. This spring, following a seasonal routine will help us cleanse, rejuvenate, and truly celebrate the gifts this season has to offer.

Wishing you health, wellness, and a vibrant Spring!

With warm Aloha,

Peggy

 

Our Maui Pukalani yoga class is held on Tuesdays 8:30-10am at Wisdom Flow Yoga, I hope to see you there soon!

☆ Click to view the schedule and sign-up: https://yogaawareness.com/yoga/classes/hawaii/maui-pukalani-makawao-yoga-class

Peggy Jubert
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Posted Date : 20-03-2017
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