For those in the Southern Hemisphere it's finally time to say goodbye to Winter and welcome in the Spring sunshine. Lydia our most loved Ayurvedic Practitioner has kindly shared her best tips for transitioning through to Spring. Take out of this guide what you feel resonates with you.
Easy to follow, helpful Ayurvedic advice to boost good health during springtime.
Spring, known as Kapha season is defined by excess water and earth elements. By including a daily morning routine and basic diet guidelines can be a health game changer! Not only does it stimulate better digestion by enhancing your digestive energy "Agni" , it also delivers you optimal health, calms the nervous system and enhances your energy so you have improved focus, stamina and positivity.
Daily Morning Routine - 8 steps to long life according to Ayurveda.
- Wake up to watch the sunrise and utilise the new-found seasonal vitality, as heaviness is influenced by kapha and is especially aggravated by sleeping in beyond 7am. Rising early is a useful way to reduce kapha aggravations of fatigue, lethargy, mucus and muzzy headaches.
- Brush your teeth using Neem based toothpaste, as Neem is a cleansing and nourishing herb.
- Scrape your tongue with a Copper Tongue Scraper to remove toxins (ama) and stimulate your digestion
- Oil pulling- slowly swish MCT coconut oil in your mouth for 2-5 minutes then spit it out. This helps remove any leftover toxins from undigested foods, so you don't re-digest them when you drink or eat.
- Before your morning shower, dry brush your body towards the heart, then massage warm sesame oil across your head and body to assist in stimulating energy and removing heavy toxins from the skin.
- After showering, slowly drink a glass of warm water- it improves digestion and waste elimination.
- Practice Meditation and Yoga- Try guided meditation for few minutes, focusing on slowing your breathing. Then include a stimulating, medium to fast paced yoga sequence working on warming and rejuvenating the body.
- Enjoy warm easy to digest breakfasts with stimulating spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and seeds along with nourishing oils like ghee or hemp seed oil.
Tips:
Avoid breakfasts that include; dairy products, raw foods eg.smoothies, dry toasted breads & fruit juices as well as fried, overly oily foods and processed meats.
Avoid drinking coffee or tea before eating as this will reduce your capacity to correctly digest food and absorb nutrients.
And never to do this with these foods. It will lead to poor digestion & health.
- add honey to hot drinks
- mix dairy with fresh fruit
- mix dairy with fish
- consume cold drinks
Your body needs movement, warmth & extra nourishment to recover from the cold winter so now is the time for selfcare. So soak your feet, have a long bath, and treat yourself to an invigorating massage or facial!
