Attuning to the Seasons through Ayurveda
“Ritucharya”
An essential aspect of Ayurveda is becoming attuned to the changing seasons. By establishing a seasonal routine, we can proactively prepare for upcoming shifts and align our bodies with nature’s cycles. This proactive approach enables us to foster a deeper relationship with the natural world, helping us to avoid illness and imbalance. As we learn to work with nature, rather than against it, we balance the external rhythms with those that are inevitably reflected within ourselves.
Nature, of course, is not just all around us – it is us.
In the UK we are used to categorising each year into four distinct seasons. (Of course, it can sometimes feel like we experience all four of these seasons in one day and I’m sure you’ll agree that on these days we can often feel that same sense of upheaval in our own bodies.) And though sticking to these four seasons makes sense on many levels for our own climate, it’s fair to say that the start and end of any three-month period can feel like very different kettles of fish. As I write this it is mid-March and we are approaching the official start of Spring. The sun may be starting to make an appearance but I’m still in my winter coat and only last week I very nearly got blown into the estuary on my morning dog walk. Fast forward three months and I’m expecting that same dog walk to be full of bikini-clad people heading for their morning swims, men insisting on running topless and a handful of passersby exclaiming how it is categorically too hot to do anything. My point being that a lot can change in three months, and so to truly be in tune with nature (and adapt our diet and lifestyles to suit this), we may have to show some flexibility in our view of the seasons.
Ayurveda recognises six distinct two-month seasons based on how the weather presents during those months.
Although these are based on the Indian climate and therefore should not be superimposed onto our own, I do find them helpful when it comes to assessing my body’s needs throughout the year. And as our climate changes I have noticed that they are not that dissimilar from what we are now experiencing year to year. For example, in Ayurvedic seasons the peak summer months are mid-May to mid-July, with the rainy season being mid-July to Mid-September. I know I have rejoiced during the May heatwaves that summer has come early and is here to stay…only to feel cheated come festival season, as the temperatures drop and we find ourselves shivering under a tree wearing a disposable kagoul and looking anything but chic.
So, where does that leave us for the next couple of months? According to Ayurveda, we are now entering Vasanta (Spring) – the time when Kapha dosha is most likely to become aggravated.
The qualities of Kapha (formed from earth and water) are cold, moist, solid, heavy, slow and oily. If we think about these qualities and how they may show up in the body, it makes sense as to what sort of imbalances may present if there is too much of them!
Common Kapha imbalances:
- Frequent colds and excess mucus
- Sinus Congestion
- Sluggish digestion
- Heaviness (physical and emotional)
- Lethargy
- Hay fever/Allergies
- Fluid retention/puffiness
- Weight gain
- Excess sleeping
- Lack of motivation
- Attachment/resistance to letting go
Let’s explore this further to understand how the weather affects Kapha dosha and its associated properties.
It may be said that on average, late Winter shares a lot of these same qualities. It is cold, often wet, maybe we get some ice – solid and heavy. Basically, Kapha dosha. This is reflected within our bodies and starts to gradually increase over those late winter months. We may even want to picture this showing up in our bodies like a block of ice.
Then Spring rolls around and the sun starts shining. Hallelujah!, we shout. The year is starting anew, and I am ready for it! But then for some reason, we actually don’t feel ready for it. We feel tired and heavy. That head cold is back and we’re looking puffy. The appetite has gone and the digestion seems slower (although we’ll keep eating anyway out of routine). Whyyyy? We wonder. And then we start to feel depressed.
Well…because that beautiful warm sun has started to melt that block of ice inside us (aka accumulated Kapha dosha) and it is now moving throughout the body and sitting in all the places that feel heavy, or streaming out of our eyes and noses leading to a mass shortage of tissues.
The answer? We’ve got to expel that excess Kapha.
There are several ways to do this but the easiest and most accessible way to do this is by making some simple changes to our diet and lifestyle.
When talking about Ayurveda I will often bang on about balance, which these days feels like an overused word without much substance, however, the principle of balancing is a foundational aspect of how we apply Ayurveda and is usually an easy place to start when the intricacies of the system can feel overwhelming.
In practical terms this works on the basis that “like increases like” whilst opposing qualities bring balance. So, if there is a certain quality that is in excess in the body, then to decrease it, we use something with the opposite quality.
When working with Kapha dosha, this means that to counteract the effects of too much cold, oiliness and heaviness in the body, we give our body that which is warm, dry and light, and avoid anything with the same qualities as this will aggravate our imbalance further.
It should be noted that this does not just apply to the food and drink that we eat, but also the activities that we carry out and our lifestyle choices, as these too have the potential to increase or decrease certain qualities within the body.
Quick Tips to balance Kapha during Spring
FOOD Focus on warmly spiced, light and dry dishes such as quinoa, lentils, dark leafy greens. Feel free to get trigger-happy with that spice mill and if you want a sweetener then opt for honey which is slightly heating (just don’t boil it!)
Cut back on the heavier root vegetables and meats that previously helped to ground us during Vata season. If eating meat, stick to chicken, turkey or white fish.
Avoid heavy, greasy foods, red meat and cold dairy. Anything with sweet, salty or sour tastes should be reduced or cut out if Kapha is already aggravated. (And yes, sour does include ferments so step away from that Kombucha and sauerkraut)
LIFESTYLE Kapha is stagnation so to disrupt it, we need to move our bodies. This means getting up earlier (which may feel counterintuitive when you’re knackered, but it works) and exercising as soon as we can – this doesn’t have to mean the gym. It can look like a brisk walk, dancing round your kitchen, going for a swim, or some quick-paced sun salutations first thing (highly recommended).
It also means moving things in other ways so change up your routine, add in some spontaneity, use a dry brush on your body and encourage that lymph to move through the lymphatic drainage system.
When Kapha is aggravated
It may be that you’re already experiencing some of the common Kapha imbalances listed above. If that is the case, then additional protocols may be advisable to help remedy what has gone awry.
Two very effective techniques for aggravated Kapha is (Ayurvedic) fasting and cleansing, however, it is important to state that these should only be carried out under the guidance of a trained Ayurvedic consultant or practitioner. With any advanced protocol then we must always look at the individual – taking into consideration any medical presentations or history along with their body constitutions so that advice can be tailored and administered safely.
If you want to explore this further, then reach out and we can have a free chat to discuss how you may benefit from a more personalised approach.