Awaken with the Season
Ayurveda’s Guide to Spring
There’s magic that happens when we appreciate just how intimately connected our bodies and minds are with our environment. As the seasons progress, the hours of daylight change, the weather shifts, different food becomes available, and our bodies and minds respond in turn.
Here we are on the cusp of spring, and as the earth shakes off the heaviness of winter and bursts into new green shoots and fresh life, our bodies and minds naturally crave renewal.
Ayurveda teaches balance. When the environment becomes heavy with Kapha in spring, we may feel this imbalance in our own bodies. The moisture and coolness of spring can leave us feeling sluggish, stagnant, or congested. This is the perfect time to follow our instincts—embrace movement, adjust our diets, and lighten our routines to align with nature’s rhythms.
Spring’s Seasonal Foods: Nourishment for Renewal
In winter, we seek warm, nourishing foods that ground us. As spring arrives, we need to shift toward lighter meals that gently detoxify and energise, preventing congestion and sluggishness.
Keep meals warm, light, and easy to digest, emphasising bitter, pungent, and astringent foods such as green leafy vegetables, and warming spices that help clear excess moisture and balance Kapha.
Emphasise:
Bitter greens (dandelion, rocket, kale) to clear excess mucus and stimulate digestion.
Spices like ginger, turmeric, and black pepper to kindle digestion and counteract dampness (try making some golden milk).
Avoid overly heavy, sweet, oily, or cold foods, as they can contribute to sluggishness and congestion—common Kapha imbalances in spring.
Ayurvedic Self-Care for Spring Vitality
To shake off the sluggishness of winter, embrace daily rituals that invigorate your energy:
Alternate dry brushing (stimulates circulation, encourages lymphatic flow, and helps remove toxins) with abhyanga (self-massage with oil).
Wake with the sun: Longer days call for earlier rising to match the vibrant energy of spring. The sun is now rising at about 6:20—try waking with its light to greet the day.
Movement: Invigorate and Energise
Movement is key in spring to counterbalance the earth-and-water qualities of Kapha. In my yoga classes right now, we’re shifting toward a more dynamic practice that includes:
Sun Salutations to build heat and awaken the body.
Twists to stimulate digestion and detoxification.
Breathwork: Try Breath of Fire and Bhastrika to energise and clear mental fog.
Living in Harmony with Spring Rhythms
Beyond diet and movement, adjusting your daily rhythm helps you align with spring’s energy:
Embrace the outdoors: Get outside, walk barefoot, and soak in the rising energy of nature.
Declutter your space: Just as the body benefits from a cleanse, your home and mind thrive in a fresh, lightened environment.
Follow your creative impulses: Spring is a time of new beginnings—plant seeds, start a new project, or try something new.
Rest: Allow your body and mind time to adjust to the new season. Prioritise rest, good sleep, and a positive state of mind.
By tuning into these seasonal shifts, you can move into spring feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to embrace all that this season has to offer.