As spring drips into our days, as does Kapha Season (in the Northern Hemisphere). Kapha, a dosa within Ayurveda, begins as wet, cool, and muddy in early March and April. By the time late Spring is fully present, Kapha season ushers in some warmth, but remains wet and muddy. In that way, it can be of benefit to find some practices to heal your energy throughout these stuck-in-the-mud days. These practices can be physical, through asana of some sort, or nutritional, with Ayurveda in mind, or more in the energetic realm. Drawing from the abundance of practices available, weave what works best for you into your daily routine and balance the Earthy, deeply grounded nature of Kapha season as the sun melts the snow and we are all asked to reawaken.
Springtime is a beautiful few months of blossoming, as the Earth reawakens after deep rest. Winter, guided by Vata dosa, is one that is drying and asks you to hibernate as the Earth does the same. Coming out of this deep period of rest, Kapha slowly welcomes in days of rebirth, renewal, and reassessment as we rise up to watch the flowers flourish once more. The muddy days of Kapha are present not only in the Earth, but energetically in our bodies. You might feel more stubborn, lethargic, sleepy, or hazy. To work to balance these energies can be immensely healing.
For starters, a movement practice that can be led with intuition so as to work in tune with body involves some gentle tapping. With your fists lightly curled, start from the soles of your feet and gradually move up your body as you softly hit (an oxymoron, yes, but really - a gentle sort of tapping of the fists at a fairly quickened pace is all this takes) your feet, ankles, calves & shins, hamstrings, thighs, hips (maybe throw in some hip shimmies), belly, abdomen, chest, shoulders, & arms. Release your fists as you make your way towards your face. Bring your fingers to cheekbones and forehead and smush everything together, then release, and repeat. You might feel silly, but you'll likely feel more awake and aware as you mindfully interact with your body. For the crown of your head, dance your fingertips all around in a rhythmic tap dance. Close your eyes. Allow yourself to drop into the physical sensations.
When you wrap up this portion of the practice, more movement is often an intuitive shift. Drop into some Yin shapes (child's pose, reclined butterfly with a bolster). Turn on some music, if you're really feeling called to move) and dance out the last drops of Winter.
Dry brushing can be equally beneficial to this physical practice. Both encourage healthy blood circulation in your body. A brush for this practice can be found easily online or in most local health stores. Brush dry skin in long strokes from the soles of your feet upwards, moving the brush toward your heart. For each section of skin, brush several times over. When you brush your stomach and armpits, move the brush in a circular, clockwise direction. Some dry brushes can be tough on the face and a softer, smaller brush is a better fit.
Of course, the nutritional aspects of Ayurveda cannot be forgotten. The weather is warming up, in most regions, and winter food might not sit as well on your belly as it did on snowy January days. Depending on your dosha, the food you should eat to balance Kapha season will vary. Overall, though, springtime calls for an increased intake of lighter, drying foods to balance the moisture of these fresh spring days. Place a focus on smaller meals and less snacking throughout the day. Opt for cooked foods over raw, but do still enjoy some fresh fruit and vegetables. These months are a time to explore more spices, too, especially ginger & turmeric if they’re not already a part of your daily routine. Mix them into a warmed milk, nut or dairy, for an evening blend before bed. Some common foods to focus on reducing include: Avocado, banana, dates, coconuts, sweet potatoes, olives (& oils), wheat, breads, oats, and nuts.
Energetically, Spring is overflowing with rebirth, for Earth and all of us humans. To fall in tune with these rhythms, waking up with the sun, or before, and falling asleep at a time that allows for such, is worthwhile. If this isn’t a time you normally wake up, give yourself space for the shift to become a welcomed part of your routine. Time permitting, meditation, journaling, and an asana practice can be woven in to those early morning moments before your day fully begins.
A simple journaling practice, perhaps best done after some gentle asana or a brief meditation, could involve: Write down a few precise words for how you feel at the moment. Sleepy? Stubborn? Grateful? Fresh? Then, some words for how you would like your day to feel or exact things you’d like to accomplish. In the mud of Kapha season, it might feel more difficult to be productive and check of all your to-dos, so writing them down can make you more accountable. In the bigger picture of this spring season of refreshment and realignment, how would you like to see yourself as summer rolls around? On occasion, when your journal is out and open, sketch some words or visions for yourself, how you would like to feel and be, when this season of rebirth is gone.
Express gratitude for the slow days at the start of Kapha season that stir you from your winter, Vata slumber. Show up for yourself and move in the flow of it all as the days grow longer, the sun warmer, and the Earth asks us to follow suit.
Bonus morsel: Below, you’ll find some phrases to weave into your thoughts & journal pages as you heal & balance your energy throughout Kapha season:
I awaken in tune with the Earth.
Moving slowly, I know all is well. Good things are coming.
I will show up for myself in these days of blossom and bud.
I am of Earth.
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