Spring is Sprung – Bringing in Change – Establishing Rhythm

Winter to spring is the most noticeable change within the seasons in the UK and the one everyone seems to talk about, poor old February often gets a good old berating, but bulbs are emerging, days are getting longer, ideas are formulating and a sense of new beginnings and changes are afoot.

Living holistically and within Ayurvedic principles brings a wonder to working with the season, something we would have done instinctually more in the past and which can get lost in modern life with the ability to buy goods all year round, keep lights on to alter our circadian rhythm and now the constant availability on our phones to look at anything we wish to distract us. If we choose to follow a more organic approach to our bodies and lifestyle we can stay more in awareness & balance.

As we come out of the darker months we are moving from the Vata, air & ether where we have been more internal and heading into a Kapha time of earth & water, a building time of more cohesion and focus on what we want to achieve within the year and where we are heading ( get those New year resolutions back out and have a rethink) During the winter months of darkness, fires & hibernation our digestion is used to more heavier unctuous foods that warm & comfort, we slow down, exercise slightly less and have less daylight hours. We can become slow & lethargic and as the spring opens up there is a push me pull me action as we start to rev up and get ready for new starts.

How to Improve Our Health and Aid Digestion In Spring

As we start to cleanse through we can feel more chesty, mucousy & spring colds can come in, allergies can reawaken, water retention, aches & pains – oh what fun as we start to move & energise more. The liver is the leading force here, with the gallbladder and movement of bile but there is plenty we can do to help it improve our health & aid digestion.

Reduce

• Dairy products
• Salt – swap to pink Himalayan salt or kala namak also known as Himalayan black salt.
• Sugary foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Red meats & processed meats

Bring in

• Warm water w ginger or lemon
• Focus on a daily routine (more to come on this)
• Increase foods that are bitter, astringent & pungent
• Take milk thistle tincture or add to diet ( ground up on porridge or top on soups)
• Organic Apple cider vinegar w warm water
• Eat organic, local & seasonal where possible

Pay attention to how you see food and what you eat and when you are hungry. Approach all meals with gratitude, eat more slowly, chew each mouthful well. Don’t eat when you are feeling really stressed or anxious and make mealtimes an enjoyable ritual, cooking from scratch where possible and try to eat intuitively rather than from cravings & start to be curious about what’s behind any cravings.

Eat more bitter, astringent & pungent foods

In Spring bitters are plentiful greens, purple sprouting, rocket, watercress, chicory, kale brussels, cabbage, endive, young dandelion leaf, dill, chard, rhubarb, turmeric, fenugreek & the asparagus coming soon. Bitter foods bring in lightness & movement, they reduce fat, manage blood sugars, clear blood, improve digestion and reduce moisture which is part of spring Kapha imbalance.

In season astringents are cranberries, pomegranates, beans & lentils, apples, pears, honey, tea, dried cherries & coriander. Foods that cause a pucker reaction to their taste, they help contract tissues, clear blood and help to contract & tone skin layers.

Pungent is the stuff that makes food taste good so some moderation is needed so as not to cause aggravation. Chillies, hot peppers, garlic, onion, mustard, lemon, black pepper & ginger ( a general winner )they all excite, help to remove mucous, dry up fat and dilute channels of the body but as said before not too much all of the time as excess can upset the stomach.

We also want good hydration and sipping warm water is more replenishing than cold water and less of a shock to the body.

A Good Seasonal Tea:

• 2 green Cardomom pods
• 6 black pepper pods
• Tsp cinnamon
• Tsp ground turmeric
• Sliced fresh ginger

I like to pop all ingredients into a litre thermos flask at the start of the day and leave to imbue. Then pour small cups throughout the day as it strengthens in flavour.

If you fancy a gentle cleanse the start of spring is the best energetic time – you can give yourself 3, 5 or 7 days of cleansing food and clean eating at a time where it isn’t going to cause undue stress as a detox can bring about some fatigue, moodiness or headaches as the toxins release. ( please get in touch if you would like a cleansing programme).

Kitchiri Spring Recipe:

• 1 cup basmati white rice
• 1 cup red lentil
• Small onion diced
• 4 stems purple sprouting
• 1/2 broccoli head
• 1/2 spring cabbage finely sliced
• 4/ 5 chard leaves finely sliced
• handful green beans – finally sliced
• Fresh parsley or coriander
• Tbsp ghee or coconut oil
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida
• Celery salt & black pepper to flavour
• Choice of stock 1 litre

1. Soak lentils & rice for 30 mins together and rinse.
2. Pestle & mortar all spice seeds
3. Cut stems of purple sprouting & broccoli and set heads aside
4. Heat pan & add ghee allowing to melt and then add all spice seeds & then ground spices, chopped onion and stems from purple sprouting & broccoli. Allow to cook for a couple of minutes and then add lentils & rice and mix in. Stir for about a minute and then add half the stock and allow gently to come to simmer. Let the rice & lentils cook adding more stock as needed – when nearly cooked add all the green veg and stir in and cook till veg softens . Season with celery salt & black pepper and serve. I like my kitichiri quite moist so I add lots of stock – top with chopped parsley or coriander and ground milk thistle or sprinkling of celery seeds.

Yum and really gentle on digestion – great for lunch as a main meal and cleansing to the system

How to Improve Energy In Spring

Spring spices

• 1 tbsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp black pepper

Dry roast the seeds in a frying pan and combine with rest of ingredients and grind down in pestle & mortar. Store in a glass jar to use in cooking or to sprinkle on top of food. Fenugreek isn’t always popular with all as it can smell when leaving the skin but it is a great liver detoxifier at this time of year so give it a go and see how you find it, or swap in fennel seeds instead.

If you feel your diet isn’t quite how you would like or you feel sluggish, keeping a food diary for a week can be a good way to ascertain where you might add more nutritional value. Often we don’t recognise a habit until we see it written down, are you constantly eating the same thing, are you eating things that don’t agree with your constitution, consuming wheat at all meals with toast, a sandwich and pasta can leave the body quite heavy. Are you eating the rainbow? How much fruit do you consume? Ayurveda favours keeping fruit to itself so it doesn’t aggravate other digestion processes and ferment. Have it as snacks between meals or cook it down, stewed apples have a very different energy to eating a raw apple. Holistic living isn’t about banning certain foods or not being allowed, it’s much more about adding in lots of nutrient rich foods and making choices to aid the body with what suits it and everything in moderation.

Physical Improvements You Can Make

Physical changes at this time of year can be dry/ tired skin, weight gain from winter eating and less movement so it can be a good time to introduce some springtime rituals.

Garshana – dry body brushing is great to clear off old skin, exfoliate & give some glow, get circulation moving and wake the body up and move lymph.

Morning ritual – start at feet and gently brush up the feet and up the legs back and front, up the arms towards the body and circular around the body. I like to circle round the hips as well and as far up back as you can reach. Then pop in the bath or shower – once a week is great to bring in some va va voom.

Abhyanga – self massage is recommended as an Ayurvedic principle all year round and ideally would be done on a daily basis before washing but in todays busy world this isn’t always possible so try bringing it in once a week as a routine or if doing a cleanse doing it daily as part of detox. Spring is a great time to use a lighter oil of sweet almond oil or rapeseed, warmed slightly. Massaging the whole body start at the feet and gently massage both feet, move up the legs, round hips & buttocks, circular around the tummy, up arms, lower back, shoulders, neck and finish on the face. Use firm lengthy strokes ( maybe a video coming soon) and allow yourself time to tune into yourself, noticing any areas of tightness, any aches or pains and how it makes you feel. Ideally then sit for 5 to 20 mins in a towel in warmth and meditate while oil soaks in and then shower or bathe. I like to have a magnesium salt bath as a Sunday ritual to add in more unwinding relaxation.

Or you could try focusing on a body part a day if time is an issue. If sleep is a problem, massage before bed focusing on the face, neck and shoulders to release tension and massaging the scalp can feel amazing.

As the days open up start to rise more early, get in some early morning yoga, meditation, take time outside if you can and check in with the weather, go for a walk, look at the skies, it’s a sure way to improve mood whilst winter has been more yin as we head into a time of more energy we can crank it up a little , wake the body up. Try some body tapping before you start exercise or toe jumping, swing arms from side to side , running on the spot, jumping jacks. Although Kapha is the time of building & cohesion it is also quite slow and heavy so can require some push to bring about movement. Usha Namaskar – the sunrise greeting is a great sequence to practice first thing – Usha is the goddess of dawn and brings light to the world each morning banishing darkness on arrival. Kappalbhati breath is a great way to clear the respiratory tract and release tension. Bring in the Surya mudra ( thumb holding down ring fingers ) during meditation to enhance the energy of the sun and pingali nadi through the subtle body energies. Book a treatment.

Action – whilst New year is a great time to get excited about what we intend to happen for us it’s not always the best time for action, the energy isn’t there, we are still meant to be resting & recuperating. Spring is the time and it’s much easier to put things in place, the body’s metabolism naturally builds so it’s easier to eat less, the light is better so we have more time in the day, the sap is rising so energy is more abundant. Write out all your plans for the year , put into monthly goals and what you want to achieve. Have a financial audit – check your monies in and out and as the tax year changes – start new savings, stop paying old direct debits, do a spend check on where you want your money to go.

Have a clutter clear – I did my office last week and recycled lots of old notes and paperwork that no longer serve me and makes space for new areas of interest and new books – yippee.

Go through your wardrobe , maybe sell some stuff, take to charity shops and decide what looks you want for this year. Minimise down and give things away, recycle and repurpose, have a good look at your surroundings and have a reshuffle. Write lists of ideas and plans and next steps and if you are feeling stuck or fed up do some journaling to work out how you feel and what’s got your goat and read it back to yourself.

Incense & energy – I love basilica – light your charcoal and once heated add your basilica and allow to waft the room. It’s very healing and clears a lot of stagnant energy, think cathedrals and church smokings, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but does a great job and then you can open your windows. Or use lighter joss sticks, candles or room sprays to just lift and change the energy & clear the cobwebs. Clean the windows, get out in the garden, plant seeds and plan some social time now we can get out more.

If this all sounds a bit too much currently and your mood is low and depressed only do what you can. Holistic living is always about working from where you are at, no comparison, no inner critic – find your own centre. I saw this great quote:

“Can’t clean the whole room? clean a corner of it. Can’t do all the dishes ? Do a dish. Can’t get in the shower? Wash your face. Always look for the thing you can do with the energy and focus you do have. Little wins pave the way for bigger wins. 1% beats 0%”

And this is seasonal living, there is always movement , there is always change, we are always in a cycle and as we graduate from winter to spring we can take the simple joys of the new life of the bulbs and shoots and harness that feeling to open up into new starts and beginnings. The sun always sets and the sun always rises. I hope you find this helpful – take what you need.

Happy springtime,

@awakening.rose