Spring is such an amazing time of year. The weather becomes warmer, the days longer, and new life is blossoming all around. It is a time of rebirth for the trees and plants, and can be a time of renewal for us as well. After a long, cold, and dark winter, you may be left feeling heavy, congested, stagnant, and weighed down. Because of this, Ayurveda states that late winter and early spring are the seasons of Kapha dosha, when this energetic force becomes heightened in our environment and in our own beings. Therefore, as we transition out of winter and into spring, we must do our best to pacify the heavy, congested energy that Kapha may bring.

According to Ayurveda, at the end of winter, Kapha becomes “frozen” in our bodies due to the prolonged cold. By the spring, this frozen Kapha begins to melt, creating issues such as congestion, allergies, and colds. If we take the proper precautions, however, we can avoid these common seasonal issues and have the energy and health to really enjoy this beautiful time of year. If you are prone to springtime allergies, sinus infections, or colds, then you should definitely begin to incorporate these practices into your daily regimen to reduce these symptoms or avoid them altogether.

These springtime practices will help you regain a sense of lightness in the body and mind, reduce cold and congestion, eliminate allergies, and increase the motivation and energy in your life. There are many options, so I suggest choosing the ones that resonate with you the most and pertain to your specific needs at this time.

10 Health Practices for a Healthy Spring

1. Peform a springtime cleanse.

As mentioned above, winter typically leaves us with stagnant energy, “frozen” Kapha, and increased amounts of toxins in the system. In order to relieve the body of this congestion, a gentle seasonal cleanse may be the perfect remedy. In Ayurveda, we tend to perform a mono-diet (one-food diet) Kitchari cleanse, while administering the proper herbs and daily practices. This specific style of cleansing is a balanced method that will be suitable for most body types and health needs. It is best done at a time when you can relax, de-stress, and avoid excessive working or activities.

Discover our Kitchari Cleanse Kits here!

Discover our Herbal Detox Kit here!

Click here to read “How to Perform a Kitchari Cleanse”.

2. Follow a springtime diet.

A healthy springtime diet is filled with light, easy-to-digest meals. Due to the natural increase of Kapha dosha, it is often recommended to follow a Kapha-reducing diet at this time. One should avoid heavy foods such as red meat, dairy (including cheese), sugar, white rice, wheat, gluten, bread, pastries, pasta, processed foods, and refined grains. Instead, it is recommended to take in lighter foods such as red lentils, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), seasonal veggies, bitter greens, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, lean meat, broths, soups, kitchari, healthy nuts and seeds, and fruit (in moderation). In general, bitter, pungent, and astringent foods are recommended. This can be accomplished by adding the proper spices to each meal, such as Kapha Churna, Trikatu Churna, Ayurvedic Breakfast Spices, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, pippali, cumin, coriander, fennel, and brown mustard seed. Table salt should be avoided, and pink Himalayan salt or mineral salt should be used sparingly.

Try our Kapha Churna spice blend!

Try our Ayurvedic Breakfast Spices!

3. Avoid food after 7 pm (or earlier).

Eating too late at night can be a major instigator to the accumulation of Kapha, toxins, heaviness, weight gain, sluggishness, low digestion, slow metabolism, and allergies. If you are suffering or prone to any of these symptoms, eating a small, easy-to-digest dinner around 6 pm and not eating afterwards will be an essential habit to acquire.

4. Drink warm, cleansing teas.

Sipping on warm, digestive teas can be a great complement to your springtime regimen. A simple tea is fresh ginger tea with lemon and honey. Other great options are our AWAKEN Tea, Detox Tea, or Tulsi Synergy Spice Tea (this one is great for seasonal allergies too!).

Try our AWAKEN Tea!

Try our Tulsi Synergy Spice Tea!

Click here for our Tulsi, Turmeric, and Ginger Tea recipe.

5. Get outside and move!

Beginning a consistent exercise regimen is a great way to transition into the spring season, especially after the stagnation winter can bring. The most recommended is to find a healthy exercise routine outdoors. After being stuck inside for the winter, getting some vital fresh air daily can be a health practice all in itself. A simple walk after a meal, a beautiful hike, or choosing to ride your bike over driving can be realistic and simple ways to make this recommendation an essential part of your healthy springtime routine.

Get started with these 12 essential exercise tips!

6. Perform Sun Salutations each morning.

The beloved Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) is an amazing practice for reducing Kapha, increasing our vital energy, and boosting our mood and motivation each day. As we step into spring, let us welcome and honor the sunshine as we enhance our health and vitality! Begin by performing 3 to 5 rounds of the sun salutation each morning upon awakening. If you are experiencing a strong Kapha imbalance, it is recommended to steadily increase these until you are performing 10 rounds each morning.

Discover more detoxifying Yoga postures here.

7. Get rid of what is no longer serving you.

This is a very broad recommendation, as it can have a wide variety of meanings to different individuals. This can be a physical purging if you feel you have too much clutter in your home and in your life. Go through your belongings and let go of any possessions that are no longer needed. This can also have a deeper meaning in terms of friendships, relationships, emotions, habits, or anything else that you have been holding onto that no longer serves your better Self. Take some time to evaluate these areas in your life. What areas of your life are unnecessarily cluttered and holding you back in the evolution of your true Self? Bring awareness to these areas, let them go, and be FREE!

8. Spring clean your mind.

Although we are constantly going through physical detoxes in our society, we so rarely focus on the toxins that have accumulated in our minds. As we transition into this time of cleansing and renewal, make some time to detoxify the energy of the mind as well. This can include meditation, nature walks, bringing awareness to our negative thought patterns, changing our negative thought patterns, processing through repressed feelings and emotions, journaling, art therapy, yoga therapy, or whatever may resonate with you. The most important thing is that you take the time to make the change.

Click here to find out “How to Perform a Mental Detox”.

9. Spring clean your surroundings.

To obtain a clear, organized, and fresh mind, we must also have our personal space around us reflect this. Clearing out unnecessary clutter, cobwebs, and dust that have accumulated over the winter (or longer) is a great way to refresh your own being in your day-to-day life. Having a peaceful, clean space to sleep, work, relax, and play is so essential for our well-being; just a small amount of effort to do this can really make a big difference in our overall mental health and clarity. Set aside a weekend in the near future to tackle any areas in your home that may need some love. Make your home your healing sanctuary where you can recharge, regroup, and nourish yourself each day.

10. Find some support with springtime herbs.

As with any Ayurvedic protocol, herbs are always a powerful way to accelerate the healing process while administering the proper diet and lifestyle practices. Some of the best herbs to consider during the transition in the spring season are:

Trikatu Churna
Triphala Churna
Punarnava
Pippali
Ginger
Tulsi
Chitrak
Neem
Guggulu
Punarnava Guggulu
Turmeric
Kalmegha
Kutki
Bibhitaki
Licorice (yasthimadhu)
Clove
Elecampane (pushkarmul)

*Please keep in mind that this is a general list. If you are looking to acquire a specific springtime herbal formula, it is best to have an individual Ayurvedic consultation to get the appropriate herb choices for your unique needs.

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10 Practices for a Healthy Springtime Transition