Ayurveda & Yoga for Spring

Spring time According to Ayurveda: What is kapha dosha and kapha season?

Spring has finally sprung. The tulips are blossoming, birds are chirping, and fresh rainy days are upon us. While this time of year can inspire creativity, rebirth, and transformation - it can also be difficult for us to slowly come out of our winter hibernation.

Maybe you've been feeling a little heavy or lethargic as we transition from winter to spring. According to Ayurveda, this can happen during spring, or Kapha season, if we are not living in tune with the rhythms and signals of nature.

How do I know if my kapha dosha is out of balance? Beyond feeling sluggish, typically we see an imbalance in kapha during spring manifesting as excess phlegm or mucus.

Does this sound familiar to you?
As the cold earth begins to melt in spring, we can see this happening within us as well- that seasonal cold or seasonal allergies begin to pop up.

So what is kapha dosha and kapha season? Kapha is one of three doshas: kapha, pitta, and vata. These three doshas, or energies, exist within everything in the universe and within us - the macrocosm and microcosm. Each dosha consists of a combination of two elements.

Kapha in sanskrit means to "flourish in water." Can you guess one of the elements of kapha? Kapha dosha consists of the elements earth + water. Imagine the qualities of earth + water: heavy, dense, damp, oily, dull, and cool.

According to Ayurveda, like increases like, and opposites balance. What does this mean for us? The spring season of kapha is already heavy, dense, damp, oily, dull, and cool and if we tend to eat foods with these qualities we will increase the kapha dosha within us. For example, if we eat fried food (heavy and oily) and drink iced coffee (cool), we may increase our kapha dosha and dampen our Agni, or digestive fire- leaving us feeling even more lethargic than before.

However, if we practice the idea of "opposites balance" we may keep the kapha dosha at a harmonious level. For example, drinking warming teas such as ginger and star anise or cumin, coriander, and fennel tea (CCF tea) can bring about more harmony in kapha dosha and through spring time.

Ritucharya, Seasonal Ayurveda Practices for Balancing Kapha

Waking at sunrise & exercising between 6-10 am

Tongue scraping & oil pulling

Dry brushing & Abhyanga (self-massage) with sunflower oil

Neti Pot cleansing of the sinuses

Nasya oil for the nostrils and sinuses

Eating bitter & astringent veggies (ex. beets, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower)

Drinking warm water or warming teas throughout the day (ginger tea, CCF tea)

Yoga asana with a focus on opening the heart and compressing the abdomen/solar plexus (backbends, heart openers, revolved twists)

Pranayama such as Kapalabhati or lion's breath

Are you interested in learning more about Ayurveda and how you can incorporate these practices into your routine?

Check out my upcoming workshop Spring Refresh: Ayurveda & Yoga for the season.
Eligible for 2 hours of continuing education units for YA yoga teachers

Ayurvedic CCF tea for Spring

According to Ayurveda, cumin, coriander and fennel all support healthy digestion. Traditionally this tea is consumed after eating. However, I love to sip on this any time throughout the day - especially when I feel my digestion needs more attention. The balance of warming (cumin, coriander) with cooling (fennel, coriander) spices is perfect for any season, but I enjoy this the most in the spring time. These spices together are said to help support and clear the mucus from our membranes during kapha season. The slightly nutty flavor is perfect for a rainy, fresh spring day.

Ingredients - 2 servings

  • 1 tsp coriander seeds

  • 1 tsp cumin seeds

  • 1 tsp fennel seeds

  • 1 medium sized pot

  • 2 cups of water

Instructions

  1. Combine 2 cups of water with coriander, cumin, and fennel seeds.

  2. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for 2-5 minutes.

  3. Strain the seeds out once ready.

  4. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy each sip mindfully :)

  5. If you feel the tea is too weak, simmer for longer than 5 minutes.

Want to incorporate quality Ayurveda products into your daily, lunar, or seasonal routines?

I'm currently using the Sunflower Oil & Brahmi Oil from Banyan Botanicals in my daily self-massage.

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Chelsea Daniel