8 Ayurveda Tips for an Inspired and Revitalizing Spring!
Spring is here and the earth has gladly received the embrace of the sun. Let’s embrace the light to renew and revitalize our body and mind!
Spring is a season characterized by warmth and moistness departing from the cold, dry winter. It is the season of Kapha (a combination of water and earth). Let’s leave winter behind and spring forward with a seasonal diet and lifestyle that invites a little extra lightness, sharpness, dryness and heat into our lives.
As spring is a season of transition, your local weather may fluctuate for weeks between warm and cold, wet and dry — meaning that any given day could aggravate kapha, vata (a combination of air and space), or both. An agile spring routine adapts day-to-day to the subtle variations within the season.
Here are 8 Ayurveda tips for your springtime renewal.
1. Eat Warm and Light Food
Structure your diet around warm and light foods which are relatively easy to digest like fresh raw/cooked vegetables and a variety of legumes. You really can’t go wrong with vegetables, as long as you don’t overdo the heavy or watery veggies like avocado, cucumber, olives, sweet potato, squash or zucchini—which should be taken in moderation.
You may feel lighter and more invigorated if you eat less meat; for example beef, pork, seafood and duck can be particularly aggravating at this time of year. Other foods that are best avoided during the spring include fast foods, sweets, soy products, nuts, excessive amounts of bread, and chilled or refrigerated foods—especially when eaten cold.
2. Eat at The Right Time
You can start your day with a light breakfast of fresh fruit with tea. Lunches and dinners of light, cooked grains, steamed vegetables and legumes are often perfect choices. Many also benefit from eating lots of bitter greens, cabbage family vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and spicy foods like green chilies. Eaten in moderation, freshwater fish, tofu, and poached or hardboiled eggs are also appropriate during the spring season. You can enhance your meals with the pungent flavor of onions, garlic, ginger, black pepper, chili pepper, small amounts cayenne pepper, and an unlimited variety of herbs and spices.
3. Beverages
Drinking your beverages warm, ranging from room temperature to hot. You might even consider sipping on some warm water with a dab of honey throughout the day.
If possible, eliminate iced or chilled drinks, ice cream and popsicles altogether.
4. Use Less Oil in Cooking
Gradually reduce the amount of oil in your cooking, substitute with water if possible. Consume less fried foods.
5. Rejuvenating with Sesame Oil
Massage your skin with warm, organic sesame oil and then rinse off in a hot shower. Sesame oil is nourishing and rejuvenating for the skin, bones and nerves. Additionally, applications of sesame oil often result in a calmer state of mind. Sesame oil is the only oil that has the power to penetrate all seven layers of the skin, deep into the body’s organs and tissues, ultimately strengthening the bones.
6. Exercise
Spring is also a good time of year to push yourself a bit physically, with longer, more intense workouts. However be mindful of the limitations of your particular constitution. Consider yoga, biking, jogging, hiking or swimming, and try to exercise in the morning 6-10 am. If your schedule won’t accommodate a morning workout then 6-10 pm in the evening a good time to exercise as well.
7. Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises such as Pranayama helps clear out toxins and release stagnant energy while bringing in fresh energy and nutrients to our body and mind. Give it a try, read up on pranayama exercises and poses, breathing techniques and sequences.
8. Spicy Herbal Tea
Enjoy spicy herbal teas throughout the day and experiment with supportive spring combinations like lemon+ginger; coriander+cumin+fennel or ginger+black pepper+cinnamon. Place the ground spices into a pan and cover with 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes to allow the ingredients to infuse. Strain the delicious liquid into a cup and add the honey to sweeten the taste.
Check out our wellness tours which introduce you to Ayurvedic massage, treatment and yoga; in addition to amazing sightseeing. Enjoy a well balanced and happy vacation!