Now that it’s Spring, we are officially in Kapha season! According to Ayurveda, India's 5000 year old healing system, Kapha is one of the three Doshas, or mind/body types. During Kapha season, the air is damp and our energy becomes depleted. We get sluggish and just like in the late fall, turn inward.
Here are five ways to help ease your way into Spring and out of the season of Kapha:
1. Wake up with the sun
First thing you should do in the morning is open those blinds and let the light of the sun wake you up, not the light of your cell phone.
2. Eat and drink warm, spicy foods
It's important at this time of year to ignite your Agni, or internal fire. Ginger tea is great, as is a Turmeric Latte, or Golden Milk. What you don't want to do is eat raw vegetables at this time. Cook your veggies as much as possible.
3. Give yourself a rubdown
Before hitting the shower, give yourself an oil massage, or Abhyanga. Use cold-pressed sesame seed oil scented with several drops of your favorite essential oil blends. Start by massaging your feet and working your way up towards the heart (feet to buttocks, hands to shoulders, entire length of your back downward, chest, and belly rubbing counter-clockwise). Try to let the oil sink in a bit before getting into the shower. No need to use soap to wash the oil off, just wash the important stuff (you know what I'm talking about).
4. Get active
As I said before, Kapha season makes us sluggish, so it's important to get moving. Try a vigorous Vinyasa Yoga class, or any type of cardio to get those endorphins flowing.
5. Let sh*t go
Literally and figuratively. Clean your apartment and donate/sell anything you haven't worn in a while. Also try to write down on a piece of paper anything that's been hard to shake off: a bad breakup, a bitter grudge, the last 12 months, then rip it up and throw it away.