Kapha Season Is Coming: Ayurveda’s Spring Guide To Living Well

With every passing day, we inch closer to the first day of spring. Slow and subtle changes turn the earth damp and heavy from the melting snow and ice, the days become longer, and signs of new life begin to emerge.

As you notice signs of spring’s arrival, you may not realize you’re observing the seasonal elements associated with Kapha dosha. The ancient founders of the yogic tradition had rituals and festivals to honor these environmental shifts and remind us of our connection to the natural world.

In the Kerala Ayurveda tradition, daily routines, diet, exercise, and lifestyle practices were all adapted to stay in step with the season. In this blog, we’ve simplified ways to shift into a healthy spring transition so you can awaken your mind and body with Ayurveda as the seasons change. Read on to discover four ways you can take an Ayurvedic approach to the Kapha-dominant spring season.

STEP 1: Shift Your Spring Perspective

The science of Ayurveda is based on the elements of nature and helps us tune into the different ways the seasons affect the mind and body. The key here is Ayurveda doesn’t distinguish between four seasons, but focuses on the three doshas predominant in nature instead: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Just as each person has a dominant dosha (or two), the seasons do as well.

Vata season reigns from late fall into early winter, Kapha season from the coldest days of winter into spring, and Pitta season from late spring into early fall.  

You can think of these seasons as flowing into one another, each with their own distinct qualities, subtly shifting in the world around us, but also within. This awareness will help you honor your body during seasonal transitions and live in harmony with the seasons.

For instance, late winter and spring are both considered Kapha seasons. When warmer temperatures begin to melt the accumulated snow and ice, kapha in the body also begins to liquify, often causing colds and a runny nose. Spring invites us to lighten up and eliminate accumulated kapha from the body system with an Ayurvedic cleanse, known as panchakarma, which can help minimize springtime ailments and energize the mind and body.

Staying in sync with your environment is an essential part of Ayurvedic wellness. Keeping in touch with the cycles of nature and the doshic qualities of each season will help you feel your best all year long.

STEP 2: Consider Spring’s Effects on Your Mind and Body

During the cold days of winter, we build up a physical and mental winter coat that keeps us warm, safe, and moving slow and steady to preserve energy. Shedding this coat in the spring means lightening up — literally and figuratively.

The arrival of spring means longer days and more sunlight. It’s the perfect time of year to get outdoors and embrace the energy of the season. It’s easy to reinvigorate the mind and body with plenty of fresh air, morning walks, and time spent in nature observing Mother Earth. Ayurvedic philosophy encourages rising with or before the sun and going to bed by 10 pm each night.

Following this schedule, you’ll rise just before the Kapha time of day starts at 6 am and begin to rest before Pitta time takes over at 10 pm. This rhythm is vital to maintaining energy throughout the day and fostering a slow, relaxed state of mind in the evening.

During the spring, you’re not the only one coming out of hibernation and enjoying the light — plants and animals are too! Because of everything ‘waking up’ together, seasonal allergies can peak during this time. The simple practice of administering a few drops of Nasya Oil into the nostrils can help support healthy nasal passages during this mucusy, messy time. Special attention to balancing kapha will help keep you from getting stuck in the mud so you can celebrate spring’s arrival!

STEP 3: Embrace The Qualities of the Spring Kapha Season

Kapha dosha is most likely to become imbalanced during the spring season because of the cold, wet, and heavy qualities surrounding you–especially if you are a kapha individual. The qualities of Kapha reflect the two elements of nature associated with this dosha– earth and water. To keep things easy, just think MUD when you think of Kapha!

Signs that Kapha may be imbalanced include: lethargy, sluggishness, nausea, weight gain, swelling, oily skin, water retention, or feeling stuck in a rut emotionally.

Qualities that balance Kapha are simply opposites: dryness, lightness, warmth, and activity. This is why a Kapha balancing diet often includes light vegetable soups, warming spices like ginger, and lots of leafy greens. Honey taken in warm water as a soothing tea can be a great way to stimulate Agni, or the ‘digestive fire,’ which is key to ‘drying up’ excess heaviness, wetness, and oiliness in the body during the Kapha spring season.

STEP 4: Take Small Steps Every Day to Stay Well and Balanced This Spring

The best way to transition from winter to spring is to incorporate a few simple routines into your day, taking small steps to get the energy moving in your body. Daily walks outside in the brisk spring air and more rigorous workouts during the day that include squats, lunges, and other lower body exercises that will build heat in the body are fantastic for spring.

In addition to lightening up the wet and heavy spring season, daily movement is a great way to create Sukha, or good space, in the body. A yoga class that incorporates twists, backbends, and Sun Salutations is a great option for stretching and bringing extra heat into the body. Oil pulling and Abhyanga with Kapha-balancing oils, and dry brushing are all great self-care practices to invigorate your springtime routines.

Think of ways to create space in your life during spring. Consider spring cleaning projects or letting go of work or relationships that no longer serve you.

Another way to clear stagnant Kapha from the body is to detox or cleanse. If you’ve never tried a cleanse before, stay tuned for our next blog, where we’ll share our recommendations for cleansing at home, products to use, and guidelines for a 21-day customized Ayurvedic cleanse.