🌸Happy Kapha Season! We're in late winter and spring is coming. Although, we've been getting so much snow where I'm situated in Southern Ontario- I'm already starting to feel a shift with the sun and the meltier weather. I love that we can often smell spring before we can see it.Â
THE SEASONS AS TEACHERS
💗Ayurveda encourages us to be in conscious relationship with the seasons of nature and the seasons of our life. Ayurveda reminds us that we are part of nature’s cyclical rhythms. That, we ARE nature. Seasonal practices are referred to as “Rutucharya”, in Sanskrit. These practices include medicine in the form of elemental rituals, self-care, food, spices, and herbs. Rutucharya helps protect our senses, nourish our body, align to intuition, and elevate our innate-resiliency. [Re-Post words from my past seasonal posts].
đź’¦In the Northern hemisphere this means we are heading towards spring and Kapha dosha has a big role during this time.
đź’§Kapha dosha is primarily made up of the elements of Water and Earth (cool, heavy, dense qualities)
It’s common to experience signs of excess Kapha during this season: stagnancy, fatigue, low mood, allergies, sinusitis and a general heaviness. Many people benefit from supporting their Agni (digestive fire), and Ayurvedic cleanses— this can help!Â
✨Through Ayurvedic spring practices we can anchor into a HEALTH-FULL EXPRESSION of Kapha and also the subtle energy of Ojas: stability, earthiness, strength, fertility, compassionate care, endurance and WISDOM.
🌱The wisdom to know you are a vessel for the BLOOMING, even when you can’t yet see the FRUIT.Â
RITUALS:
- Rise with the sun or before the sun
- Dry brush or use an herbal powder (ubtan)
- Drink fresh ginger & tulsi tea (or other spice teas)
- Do a facial/ nasal steam
- Look to the sky: lift your arms over your head for a good stretch or stand outside and gaze up at the sky Kapha lives in the chest and this simple movement can help you feel uplifted
- Move your body daily: asanas, walks outdoors, or trampolining!
- Engage in something new: what may feel invigorating or inspiring? (habit, skill, new recipes)
- Apply a drop of diluted, cardamom, geranium, basil essential oils to your pulse points
- Adorn with colours that are warming and uplifting
- Cleanse your space (deep clean or let go of clutter
FOOD PRACTICES:
- Enjoy the shad rasa (6 tastes), but emphasize pungent, bitter and astringent, foods. Spices and masalas are beautiful supports during this time.
- For example, include some of these into your season: roasted chickpeas, sauteed bitter greens with ginger, roasted cauliflower, garlicky green beans, barley, and millet cooked with delicious spices.
- Limit cold, raw, sweet and sour foods (especially if you're feeling more mucous or allergies
SPICES AND HERBS:
- These spices and plants can support your wellbeing: ajwain, cardamom, turmeric, cayenne, ginger, pippali, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, nutmeg, clove, tulsi (holy basil), burdock, chamomile, mullein, nettle, sage, dandelion leaf and root.
- Feeling congested? Try this Masala Tulsi Chai: Start by simmering the following spices: 1 inch of fresh ginger, 1 clove, pinch of cinnamon and black pepper in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Stop the water and add in tulsi leaves or a tea bag. Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
I also want to highlight that the irregularity of this season (sometimes snowy, raining, windy, or warm can really exacerbate Vata as well)— so while these guidelines are general and may spark some resonance, you may want to speak to a practitioner for further guidance.