Spring Equinox - Time to Rise & Shine
You know that old saying, “March comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb”? Well, here in good old Colorado, the Lion roared and we got dumped on with 2 feet of snow.
Two FEET.
Twenty-four inches of heavy, wet snow. Of course, it happened during Daylight Savings, where we turn the clock 1-hour ahead. Which means that not only were we waking up in the dark again, we arose to find ourselves in the middle of a good ol’ fashioned dead-of-January style blizzard (after being outside in shorts in 60 degree weather just the week before). Talk about dampening spirits!
Moving from Winter into Spring can be tough physically, and emotionally. We are weary of the cold and dark, and though we are aching to shake off the heaviness of this season, we may find that we lack the “oomph” to move forward. You see, according to Ayurveda, the sister-science to yoga, late-Winter-early-Spring is associated with the heavy, wet qualities of the element Earth, called Kapha". Each season has its own elemental constitution, and learning about them can help us to become more in tune with each season and the nutrition and self-care recommendations that nurture our optimal health. For Kapha season, it is necessary to “go to ground” in the Winter, let the Earth rest, gather our energy in preparation for Spring. The challenge can be that with the solid earthy qualities of Kapha, we may not feel like moving much and tend to feel a little inert or even depressed. Add a dark morning and a ton of blowing snow and you DEFINITELY will want to crawl back into the covers for another 6 weeks.
And then there comes to mind another common saying - “Hope springs eternal”.
That’s the beauty of the seasons - they continue to turn, so rest assured you will never stay buried in the cold, dark ground of your being forever. The sun calls the tiny seed of our being to rise & shine!
To help you shake off the Winter that has settled into your bones, here are a few Ayurvedic strategies to help you put a Spring in your step:
Rise before 6 am - I know this can be hard when it may still be dark, but the hours of 6 am - 10 am are prime Kapha times, and the later you sleep, the more heavy and groggy you will feel. Try waking even a little earlier, say 5:30 or 5:45 and turn on the light. This will help to elevate your energy. (My pro tip: a Sunrise alarm clock!)
Move a Little, Move Often - Yes, we often feel like the best way to get things moving is to “go BIG or go home”, but that is a sure-fire way to sabotage yourself. It’s not necessary to join an expensive 7-day-a-week Boot Camp fitness program in order to reap the health benefits of moving your body. Take the seeds in your garden - they don’t shoot straight up the next day after being planted. They need water and sun and each day there’s a little bit more movement towards blossoming and full fruit. You are no different. So, start nourishing your body gently with yoga, leisurely outdoor walks, or dancing in the kitchen.
You are what you Eat - so if you want to be heavy like Winter, you keep eating root vegetables, dense protein and warm, starchy grains. These foods are great for sustaining your energy through the dark days towards the end of the year - but they can also keep you from shedding that seasonal weight if you keep eating them through Spring. Ayurveda suggests eating foods that are astringent, bitter, and pungent to help cleanse the system and foster a lightness of being in body-mind-Spirit. Intermittent fasting and reducing your sugar intake are key nutritional strategies, as well as increasing dark, leafy greens (ALL veggies are great for reducing or balancing Kapha in the body). For a list of foods that are best for this time of year, check out these tips and shopping list from my favorite Ayurvedic physician, Dr. John Douillard.
Let Go - At the turning of the seasons, its very common to partake in a “cleanse”, usually referring to a dietary cleanse to reset the body’s health and digestion. As we move into Spring, Ayurvedic nutrition strategies like those listed above are important, but I would also recommend a cleanse for your mind and spirit. Ask yourself, “what has been weighing me down lately?”, “what can I let go of that is no longer serving me?”. Practicing a releasing ritual can be a wonderfully meditative way to let go of habits, thought patterns, resentments, and anything else that is heavy on your heart.
Turn your face to the sun, my friends, Spring is on the way! It’s time to Rise & Shine!