Ayurvedic Guidelines for Spring

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Ok, perhaps a little late, but still worthwhile to carry into summer

I would think...

Misty

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Ayurvedic Guidelines for Spring

by Julia Mader

 

Spring, for many cultures, is a time of renewal and cleansing. Here

in Florida, it signifies a transition to the hot season—longer days

and intense sunshine. Ayurveda views this transition as an ideal time

to release toxins that have accumulated over the fall and winter.

 

Here are some of the methods advised by Ayurveda, a health science of

5000 years.

 

1. Avoid heavy foods, such as meat and hard cheeses. These require a

strong " agni " —digestive fire. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and

vegetables.

 

2. Eat your primary meal at mid-day so that the digestion may occur

in the afternoon. At night, our physiology slows down while the body

prepares for rest. If a large meal is consumed at night, digestion is

incomplete and this results in a buildup of toxins, which leads to

disease. A study done by John Douillard, M.D., revealed that eating

the main meal at noon increased assimilation of nutrients from the

food and contributed to excess weight loss.

 

3. Ayurveda's most common herbal compound is formulated from 3

fruits. It is called Triphala and is used to cleanse the digestive

tract of residual toxins. Triphala is highly regarded, because it is

safe to give to infants and to the very elderly. It is gentle and

effective in cleansing and strengthening the digestive process. Over

the winter, because we have consumed heavy foods, toxins have lodged

in the diverticuli of the intestinal tract. Triphala gently removes

these toxins.

 

4. As the days lengthen, we tend to stretch our busy lives to get

more in. Ayurveda invites us to pause during this seasonal change

and reassess our direction and how we are managing our energy.

Traditionally, this is best accomplished by taking refuge in a

retreat atmosphere that will support us in a time of rest and

renewal. The goal to achieve from such a retreat is to learn how to

pace our energy output—to avoid spurts of energy and downward

spirals of exhaustion. The skill of pacing energy is truly a key to

continued well-being.

 

5. According to Ayurveda, Kapha dosha increases during the spring.

This means that congestion and sinus problems may increase. A

cleansing practice taught by both Ayurveda and yoga involves

irrigation of the nasal passage with lightly salted warm water. A

neti pot is used for this practice. Ayurveda takes this yogic

cleansing a step further by applying herbal oil into the nostrils;

this penetrates the nasal cells and causes elimination of excess

mucous. This treatment is referred to as nasya, one of the Pancha

Karmas or 5 cleansings of Ayurveda.

 

6. Since the sun rises earlier, so our practice of meditation from

darkness to daylight begins earlier. Winter crisp mornings may have

tempted us to stay warm under the covers and rise later. But

springtime calls us to our early practice. The first song of the

morning birds is a song of rejoicing and signals the time to rise

from our meditation. As the sun's rays rise in the east, to spread

warmth and luster, yogis honor the solar power with Surya Namaskar

(Sun Salutation).

 

These are a few suggestions for living with the seasons, as taught by

Ayurveda and yoga.

 

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