This week, Thursday March 20th, marks the beginning of Spring.
The Spring Equinox is one of the 4 major energetic days of the year along with the Summer/Winter Solstices and the Fall Equinox. It holds a uniquely powerful energy for profound renewal & inner transformation, and is an opportune time to vision & plant seeds for all that you want to bring to fruition.
In Ayurveda, we also look at this as a perfect time for a gentle, seasonal detoxification depending on your constitution.
Here are some ways that you can gently encourage your body to cleanse:
Focus on Kapha-reducing habits. Wet, heavy Kapha winter is melting, so kapha-enhancing habits are to be reduced.
FASTING/CLEANSING
During the Spring, we want to encourage the heavy, wetness of winter to melt away. Fasting and/or cleansing is a great way to do this.
If you’d like to do a spring reset cleanse, take a digestive formula in the morning (such as Rasa Veda’s Digestive Formula – email to purchase yours), and eat kitchari for your meals during the day.
If you’re new to cleansing, start with 2-3 days. If you’d like a heavier detox, you can continue for 7, 14, or even 21 days.
GET INTO A SPRING ROUTINE
Morning routine:
Afternoon routine:
Evening/night routine:
EAT WITH THE SEASON
The spring season encourages overall lighter foods that reduce heaviness and water retention. What you consume should be fresh, warm, and easy to digest.
Spring taste profile: pungent, bitter, astringent
ADD: Steamed sprouts (such as mung bean); asparagus; leafy greens: bok choy, tatsoi, yu choy sum, komatsuna, dandelion, escarole; sour fruits (cranberry, lemon, lime, grapefruit); kitchari; quinoa; basmati rice; millet; ghee (in small quantities); soups/stews
LIMIT: Sweet, salty, sour flavors; ice; leftovers that have been in the fridge for too long; eating between meals; mushrooms/root vegetables; nuts; overly sweet foods; coffee/black tea; eggs; breads/pastries; wheat
SPICES: Ginger, curry leaf, cumin, black pepper, pippali, coriander; fennel
Ayurveda isn’t just about immediate satisfaction, it’s a whole lifestyle. Use this time as an opportunity to align your system with the seasons.
* If you’d like to get personalized cleansing support based on your individual constitution, email me to book a consultation.
photo/art: M Fatchurofi
@rooovie
The Spring Equinox is one of the 4 major energetic days of the year along with the Summer/Winter Solstices and the Fall Equinox. It holds a uniquely powerful energy for profound renewal & inner transformation, and is an opportune time to vision & plant seeds for all that you want to bring to fruition.
In Ayurveda, we also look at this as a perfect time for a gentle, seasonal detoxification depending on your constitution.
Here are some ways that you can gently encourage your body to cleanse:
Focus on Kapha-reducing habits. Wet, heavy Kapha winter is melting, so kapha-enhancing habits are to be reduced.
FASTING/CLEANSING
During the Spring, we want to encourage the heavy, wetness of winter to melt away. Fasting and/or cleansing is a great way to do this.
If you’d like to do a spring reset cleanse, take a digestive formula in the morning (such as Rasa Veda’s Digestive Formula – email to purchase yours), and eat kitchari for your meals during the day.
If you’re new to cleansing, start with 2-3 days. If you’d like a heavier detox, you can continue for 7, 14, or even 21 days.
GET INTO A SPRING ROUTINE
Morning routine:
- Wake up by 7am
- Clean tongue with tongue scraper
- Brush teeth with fennel toothpaste
- Get the lymphatic system moving by dry brushing and vigorously massaging the body with Rasa Veda Abhyanga oil or sesame oil before a hot shower; high kapha constitution can use a dry powder rub
- Add 1-3 nasya drops to nose
- Sip hot ginger & lemon tea first thing in the morning
- pranayam - Kapalabhati Breathing
Afternoon routine:
- Practice Kapha-regulating yoga postures and stimulating asana practice
- Gentle walking to encourage the lymphatic system to move and drain
Evening/night routine:
- Try to finish eating by 8:00pm
- Drink a digestive formula with Maha Triphala before bed
- Go to sleep before 11:00pm
EAT WITH THE SEASON
The spring season encourages overall lighter foods that reduce heaviness and water retention. What you consume should be fresh, warm, and easy to digest.
Spring taste profile: pungent, bitter, astringent
ADD: Steamed sprouts (such as mung bean); asparagus; leafy greens: bok choy, tatsoi, yu choy sum, komatsuna, dandelion, escarole; sour fruits (cranberry, lemon, lime, grapefruit); kitchari; quinoa; basmati rice; millet; ghee (in small quantities); soups/stews
LIMIT: Sweet, salty, sour flavors; ice; leftovers that have been in the fridge for too long; eating between meals; mushrooms/root vegetables; nuts; overly sweet foods; coffee/black tea; eggs; breads/pastries; wheat
SPICES: Ginger, curry leaf, cumin, black pepper, pippali, coriander; fennel
Ayurveda isn’t just about immediate satisfaction, it’s a whole lifestyle. Use this time as an opportunity to align your system with the seasons.
* If you’d like to get personalized cleansing support based on your individual constitution, email me to book a consultation.
photo/art: M Fatchurofi
@rooovie
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