Ayurveda is an ancient medicine that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda translates to “the study of life.” It offers us limitless ways to seek, create and cultivate balance in this beautiful, yet chaotic world. It invites us to live in harmony with Mother Nature, tap into our inner wisdom, build discernment, and be mindful of what we allow in through our sense organs: food, sounds, interactions, thoughts, beverages, products, images, etc.
As we transition into the Spring season, you may be experiencing the qualities of heavy, dense, dull, slow, sticky, steady, soft, oily, smooth and cool. The spring season is the Kapha time of year, when the Earth and Water elements dominate. As Mother Nature starts to express more of these qualities, we also may begin to feel more of these qualities in our body and mind. One of the main principles of Ayurveda is: like increases like and can lead to imbalance. If we start experiencing too much of the heavy, slow, cool and dull qualities, it could lead to depression, lack of motivation and attachment. Physically it could show up as sinus issues, congestion, weight gain, water retention and sticky stools.
If your Ayurvedic constitution is composed mostly of the Kapha dosha, you may be feeling these increased qualities more than a Vata or Pitta constitution. Vata is composed of Air & Ether, and Pitta is composed of Fire & Water. This is due to the fact that like increases like. In order to cultivate balance, we must introduce the opposite qualities. According to Ayurveda there are 10 qualities with their opposite pair. These are referred to as the 20 gunas. They are: heavy-light, cold-hot, dry-oily, dull-sharp, smooth-rough, dense-liquid, soft-hard, stable-erratic, gross-subtle, and cloudy/sticky-clear. One simple exercise you can practice is pausing, asking yourself how you feel, and then bringing in the opposite quality. For example, if your mind feels erratic, introduce stable and slow activities such as breathwork, resting, earthing, and/or taking a moment in silence. If your digestion feels heavy, eat something light. If you feel chilly, eat something warm.
We all have all three constitutions (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) in varying amounts, making each of us entirely unique. A person with a dominant Kapha constitution is warm, loving, loyal and compassionate. They are incredibly easy going and are the most grounded of the doshas. They may have a broader/sturdy build, big round eyes and have luscious, thick hair. Their skin is soft and smooth and slightly oily. They are not easily ruffled or frazzled, because they are so grounded. A Kapha constitution loves their sleep and their routine and takes life at a slower pace. An out-of-balance Kapha may find themselves feeling unmotivated and spending a lot of time on the couch being a little complacent. Imbalanced Kaphas may need an extra nudge to spark change. In this instance, it’s great to have a Pitta friend who can come share some of their fire energy with you and motivate you to get moving!
The winter month is cold, dry and windy. It is the Vata time of year and is composed of Ether & Air. We nourish ourselves by introducing the opposite qualities in the winter by consuming warm, oily and heavy foods. Come spring time, we need to lighten up and shed the excess Kapha qualities and we should begin to increase our consumption of warm, dry, light and sharp foods, spices, herbs and activities. The three flavors we should favor in the spring time are pungent, bitter and astringent.
Pungent: chilis, garlic, ginger, raw spinach, cayenne pepper, paprika, radishes
Bitter: bitter greens, beets, turmeric, radishes
Astringent: apples, pomegranate, cranberries, raw vegetables, black tea, beans
In addition to consuming more of these three flavors during the Spring, there are many additional diet and lifestyle recommendations one can participate in to create an afterglow of: uplifted, energized, warm, light, clear and expansive.
Everyone has their own unique combination of Air, Ether, Fire, Water and Earth and therefore it is highly recommended to work with an Ayurvedic Health Counselor or Practitioner to receive personalized recommendations that are suited specifically for you and your constitution.
Meg Visnaskas is a licensed massage therapist, yoga teacher and NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor at the NH Health & Wellness Center who works one on one with clients helping them achieve balance during the seasons and live in harmony with Mother Nature. To schedule a 90 minute Ayurvedic consultation with Meg, email her directly at meagan@nhhealthwellness.com. Meg also teaches yoga and leads seasonal Ayurvedic Workshops at Humble Warrior Power Yoga in Bedford and Manchester, NH.
