Kapha-emerging from ice and cold
The later part of winter and early spring is a major transition in the environment, and in our bodies. Our bodies have necessarily built up layers of insulation to withstand winter’s cold, dry weather- those deposits now want to be shed! In Ayurveda (Ayur = living; Veda = wisdom, science,) diet and lifestyle are the first go-to that help us make a smoother, calmer inner transition to the seasonal, external shifts.  We can create the best results in our health and vitality by adapting to the inevitable changes in nature.
Kapha is the dosha that is ascending.  The gunas, or qualities that govern the Kapha aspects of this passage of winter-to-spring are heavy, cold, damp, slow, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable.  We cope with these influences best by introducing opposite characteristics. Our bodies, minds and hearts THRIVE when they’re Balanced!  How?

We can begin by eating lighter. “Warm” and “cooked” are principles that consistently serve us well. Lentils and mung beans are beneficial to spring’s digestion patterns.  Also lighter and easier to digest: barley and quinoa.  Make a soup, casserole or a pilaf with these as your base. Enjoy a bowl of these grains -both or just one- just like oatmeal. Add stewed apples or pears simmered with warming spices.  Ayurvedic cookbook author Kate O’Donnell has created a sweet spice mix: 2 parts each, cinnamon and ginger to 1 part cardamon.  It is great for your morning hot cereal. The goal is that the digestive fire, referred to as agni, has sufficient fuel to feed, nourish and energize all our tissues, without excessive workload.  Minimize or avoid cold foods at this time of year. For example, cold dairy is very hard for agni to transform into a substance that digests well and thoroughly. Eat yogurt closer to room temperature and add sweet spice mix.  Other beneficial warming spices: black pepper, clove, mustard seeds, cumin. Ginger tea, and chai tea, with or without caffeine/black tea warm us from the inside out and promote good digestion.

Dry brushing can help balance the slow and dense qualities, and this is the best time of year to try it. It balances the heaviness of Kapha. Traditionally a silk or wool glove is used, but a natural bristle brush works as well. Before your morning shower, brush your limbs with a mild to moderate pressure, stroking toward your heart. There should not be any redness or stinging.
Sweep the glove or brush clockwise (upward on your right, downward on your left)  on the abdomen to facilitate the digestive movements.

The 24 hour cycle is also governed by the doshas.  Kapha rules 6:00 -10:00 – both am and pm. The heavy and slow qualities are nice in the evening to facilitate a good night’s sleep, but in the morning it may be hard to motivate especially in spring. Brisk walking or other mildly vigorous exercise is strongly suggested during this time window, to counter-balance the Kapha gunas that are stable, slow, dense and heavy.

 Waking early with the sun (if possible before 6:00 am) will infuse your energy rhythm for the day with motivation and enthusiasm. It is a time of creativity when the mind is renewed from a (hopefully) refreshing and restorative sleep.  This time can be especially auspicious for connecting to your deeper mind, where your connection to source and wisdom reside.
In the early morning hours the mind is more clear, calm and uncluttered, and it’s an excellent time for reflection, journaling or meditation.
In Ayurveda, dinacharya, or daily practices, set us up for the most favorable inner state of body and mind that lead us reliably toward fulfillment and contentment. We cannot control or change how the weather and seasons manifest.  We can shift our habits and self-care in response, creating optimal resilience and radiance. Ayurveda has the keys to guide us!

How is your DIGESTION?  This is key to maintaining excellent balance:  Good digestion means you can absorb and assimilate the foods and spices you take in. Here is an ‘aperitif’ to bring your agni to a strong state:

AGNI NECTAR  > boost through the sticky kapha of spring
½ cup water
2-3  inch piece of ginger, roughly chopped
Blend these in the blender so the ginger is a pulp.
Strain the pulp into a 2-3 cup sized jar or glass with a lid.
Add the juice of 1 or 2 lemons  to the ginger juice (you need about ½ cup lemon juice. )
Add ½ cup raw unfiltered  honey and whisk, or shake your jar, until you have incorporated it all together.
Sip an ounce of this half an hour before you eat your meal.  Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.