There are ways you can tweak your food and lifestyle choices to feel amazing this Spring!
Following a seasonal routine (ritucharya) is important so that your body and mind can more easily adapt to the changes and you can thrive no matter what the season. This includes shifting your yoga practice to stay in rhythm.
Springtime is the kapha (earth and water) time of year in which the qualities of heavy, oily, cool, damp, cloudy, and slow prevail.
To counter the sodden feeling that can rise in the Spring, welcome in foods, activities, spices, and relationships that are invigorating, light, playful, and warming to slough off the layers that have crusted over during the darkness of winter.
10 Must Do’s for Spring:
- Spices to enkindle your agni (digestive fire): black pepper, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, oregano, basil
- Bitter foods:leafy greens, spinach, turmeric, dandelion greens
- Astringent food items such as beans, legumes, soy
- Uplifting essential oils like orange, eucalyptus, clary sage, basil, lemongrass, rosemary
- Wake up early
- Use essential oils that are light and uplifting: lemongrass, tulsi, eucalyptus, basil, orange, lime
- Invigorating, dynamic exercise that’s fun
- Vigorous surya namaskara (sun salutation) & back bends in your yoga practice
- Pranayama/ breathing practices to warm you up such as kapalbhati (skull shining breath)
- Focus on what feels great and is working well for you in your life
Leave it out this Spring:
- Dairy
- Deep fried or overly oily foods
- Refined sugars
- Cold foods and drinks
- Excess salt
- Sour food items (yoghurt, soy sauce, fermented foods)
- Sleeping in late
- Negative thinking or focussing on what’s wrong (complaining or blaming)
Spring clean! It is a great time to reduce clutter in your home and mind (let go of things that represent or are attached to stagnant energy or a version of yourself that is no longer current). This is both empowering and lightens the load both physically and metaphorically.
Plant seeds in your garden and in your heart and they will be sure to blossom.
Why do you recommend avoiding fermented foods?
Hi Alana,
Great question. Traditionally in Ayurveda it is recommended to avoid fermented foods in excess in the spring time as fermented foods are sour in taste and therefore increases kapha (earth and water elements) which is prevalent at this time of year. There are wonderful benefits of fermented foods for the right person at the right time in the right amount. I think the best thing to do is to always listen to your body as the seasons shift and find what works best for you. Hope this helps to answer your question. Om shanti.