As the earth warms and the trees begin to bud, we start to emerge from the reflective hibernation of the colder months and into the lush sexiness of spring. Nature leads the way, and it feels innately right to start to shed – shed layers, shed weight and begin to lighten and brighten as the days lengthen. There’s this urge to throw open windows and let cleansing warm breezes into the house, to deep clean and remove all that is not serving us. This is a gorgeous time of the year to take note and take stock – what do we need as we move into the season of plenty, of life bursting all around us? The ancient science of Ayurveda can help us here.

Ayurveda is one of the oldest living medical systems – some 5,000 years old, originating from India. Its basic principle is to balance the mind, body and spirit using a holistic approach that includes movement, diet, herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes. Within these principles are the concepts of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – ‘bio-energies’ made up from the five elements of air, water, earth, fire and ether. Every human being has unique combinations of these life forces which the practise of Ayuverda aims to balance.  

The dosha, Kapha, is essential in winter. Embodied by the earth/water elements, it’s what helps us ground and stay well during the cold seasons – driving us indoors, hunkering down, absorbing density, imbuing a sense of safety. But if held onto for too long or becoming too heavily weighted on the balance of scale, this dosha can lead to a lethargy and listlessness, a lack of energy or lightness of being. It may look like weight gain or water retention, or a general sense of dullness. To push Kapha back, we need to lighten and regulate – up earlier, more sunshine, lighter foods, more routine. 

To help with this season of transition through the lens of Ayuervda, we love to start our day with the sun with some sort of movement practice and devotional ritual. This does not have to be overwhelming or scary – but can look like a few small practices to simplify wellbeing and signify a sense of lightness to your nervous system. 

Give these a try and sense the difference in your day and lightness of being: 

1. Drink chai tea of course! The warming spices in chai boost agni, known as digestive fire. Ingredients like ginger and cinnamon work in harmony to improve circulation and provide warmth, while cardamom and clove offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties to support immunity. A symphony for the senses, chai also aids digestion and metabolism, helping to balance the doshas. 

2. Set your alarm to welcome the day with an earlier sunrise. We adore making a cup of chai tea and finding a spot of first light, letting the sun do its magical work, infusing our skin with Vitamin D and flooding our eyes with vital rays to wake the body and mind and ensure a healthy circadian rhythm. 

3. Get up and get moving. Movement oxygenates the body and evokes prana (vital energy). Exercise is not punishment – it is a privilege and it can be free. Walk, run, do body weight exercises that you find on social media or YouTube. Incorporate weights or practise yoga, enjoy Pilates or bike ride with friends. It doesn’t matter what it looks like – all that matters is that you use your gorgeous body to do it. 

4. Breathwork. This doesn’t have to be complicated or completed cross-legged in an Ashram in Goa. As you wait for your chai tea to steep, try a little nervous system reset – breathe in for four seconds, hold for 7, exhale for eight. Lengthening your exhale immediately promotes your parasympathetic nervous system, or your ‘rest and digest’ response. It is instantly calming, clears the mind and relaxes the body and nerves. 

 

 

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