Spring Is Here
Spring is budding here in Arizona. We vacillate between beautiful warm days and the occasional cold spell with rain. The mountains are green due to the rain we have received and the plants blooming. Ayurveda defines the transition between two seasons as rutu sandhi, typically the final 15 days of one season and the first 15 days of the next.
The Ashtanga Hridayam states: “During this period, the regimen of the preceding season should be discontinued gradually and that of the succeeding season should be gradually adopted; sudden discontinuance or sudden adoption gives rise to diseases caused by Asatmya (non-habituation).”
As we move from winter to spring, this window between seasons gives us an excellent opportunity to overhaul our diet, lifestyle, and thought processes for the new season. This “in-between” time is an excellent time for a spring cleanse. There is a good chance that we have accumulated excess kapha during the winter in our tissues. If we are experiencing an imbalance, it can be aggravated by the arrival of spring. Ayurveda recommends incorporating certain foods, practices, and herbs into our daily routine at this time of year to keep kapha in balance. Observe your body’s state as it comes out of winter – Are you dry? Do you wake up feeling parched? Has winter’s dry air left your skin, hair, and nails dry? Also, observe how the seasonal shift is affecting your mental state. Because we are made of the same elements as nature, our bodies shift and respond to the season just like every other living thing around us. As the sun rises a little earlier, take that prompt to wake up a little earlier and stay awake longer. As the temperature warms up, you may notice that your appetite shifts, and you may feel less hungry. This is a great time to incorporate lighter meals. You may see green leafy vegetables, sprouts, and colorful berries at the farmer's market. Take advantage of spring’s vegetables and fruits, which are powerful lymphatic cleansers and immune boosters. Other foods to incorporate are legumes, split peas, red lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans, and fresh soybean products. Grains for the season include amaranth, barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, and quinoa. Enjoy radishes, spinach, artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, and okra.
If you want to take some time to cleanse this season feel free to schedule an appointment with me to put together a personalized program for you.