Spring, sluggishness & the energetics of inspiration, courage & hope

Spring is peeking through!

 The growing  light in the sky  feels  really good, but often our bodies are not yet ready  for all the action and extroversion that comes with Spring.

Energy levels can really fluctuate at this time, especially in the cold North-east. We might feel more tired, achy or sluggish than usual.

By the end of winter, the gradual build up of the water and earth elements in the body is at its highest. Come spring, things can feel  heavy, slow& damp in the body-mind.

In Ayurveda the qualities of  heavy, slow and damp are aspects of excessive  kapha dosha. Neutralizing this excess helps access the vitality of  Spring and lays the ground for a healthier summer.

Excessive kapha imbalances like  mucusy colds, sluggish liver, water retention, slow digestion, certain kinds of blockages, spring allergies etc. become more apparent in early spring. In Ayurvedic therapeutics, opposite heal, so we reach for qualities of light, warm, dry, mobile.

In food, this is a good  time to choose seasonal& warming bitters, pungent greens ( dandelion greens, fresh turmeric root, fenugreek leaves, arugula, burdock root etc) and the naturally occurring astringent and sour tastes.

In terms of exercise we receive a lot of social messaging about pushing for forward momentum. But I find that it is important to root down and build momentum a little bit at a time.

Honor your energy levels on a daily basis alongwith all  the vagaries of April weather.

Here are some of my tips to harmonize your transition into spring.

Lifestyle-

Movement-

Food-

In addition to eating seasonal& ‘lighter’ fare (i.e. minimizing cheese, chocolates, fried/ greasy foods) These are some spring-time  veg and fruits I reach for in the produce section-

Springtime & the energetics of inspiration, courage and hope

There’s a general emphasis on breaking down excess kapha in Spring.

This is particularly true for the respiratory system, and the  metabolic pathways of the lymph, blood and the urinary channels . Our choice of herbs and synergistic formulations happen to have a cleansing and rejuvenating action on the lymph, lungs, kidneys and liver in particular.

The other dimension in caring for our bodies is the fact that physiology is deeply connected to the mind.

E.g. Not only does the the liver plays a vital role in digestion&metabolism of fat. It plays an equally important role in the digestion of emotions (and ‘hot’ emotions in particular). When liver energy is balanced it shows up as healthy willpower, contentment and balanced enthusiasm.

Lungs, a site of kapha dosha, when imbalanced are associated with grief, and depressive feelings. When balanced it shows up as  inspiration and lightness.

Continuous and deep-seated fear weakens the kidneys. On the other hand, courage, optimism are associated with the kidneys.

Working with the senses- the gateways of perception

The sense of smell  is associated with kapha dosha. Working with or Diffusing  essential oils like bergamot, grapefruit, Tulsi  etc. can instantly shift mental states, uplift the heart and have positive physiological, psychological and spiritual effects.

Working with Herbs-