Balancing Kapha Season
Learn from one of Balanced Rock’s founders and Yosemite Ayuvedic Practitioner, Eliza Kerr, on some ways to enhance health and balance as we transition from winter to spring!
Photo Caption: (split mung beans, basmati rice, ghee, turmeric, black pepper, salt, Merced River). Photo: H.Sullivan
I love the dynamic nature of practicing Ayurveda. The wisdom is alive, never stagnant nor fixed. An Ayurvedic lifestyle is about seeking harmony within every cycle, from the macro (such as our stage in life) to the micro (such as the time of day). Harmonizing with the seasons, or rutu charya, is a key principle to an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Spring is upon us!
Spring is associated with kapha dosha. Comprised of the elements earth and water, kapha qualities include: heavy, moist, cool, cloudy and stable. If we experience excess kapha accumulation, imbalances can manifest, such as allergies, lethargy, respiratory infection, sinus infection and depression.Fortunately, we have the wisdom to balance these qualities to provide a natural spring-cleaning and keep kapha in check.Ayurveda teaches many ways to remove excess dosha, three of which are:• diet• lifestyle• panchakarma, or a seasonal cleanse.Most of us have our extra "winter coat”, which is appropriate during winter season. Now that it's spring, it's time to lighten and shed, in all ways. Favoring a vegan diet is effective for reducing kapha, which is increased by the heavy, moist qualities of meat and dairy. Specific foods that balance kapha are bitter greens, berries, pomegranate and corn, buckwheat and amaranth. Use plenty of spices to stoke your digestive fire and stimulate circulation, such as pepper, ginger and turmeric. Eating a light breakfast, a hearty lunch, and a light dinner by 6 pm allows the body to take advantage of natural metabolic cycles to shed extra weight. Enjoy herbal teas, such as fresh ginger with honey and lemon or chai, which stimulate digestion.As the days get longer, get outside everyday for some aerobic exercise. Getting up with the sun and enjoying an energetic routine of 5 heating sun salutations every morning gets the blood flowing. And it's that time of year to get your groove on as dancing and singing are great for balancing kapha dosha. Kapalabhati and bhastrika are two breathing exercises that are fantastic for cleansing and removing kapha. Pranayama should be learned from a qualified teacher.Last, but not least, Ayurveda recommends a seasonal cleanse called panchakarma. Spring and fall are ideal times to commit to the process for maximum benefit.Panchakarma (PK) is an individually tailored cleanse, supported by an Ayurvedic practitioner. Some of the components of PK are a mono-diet of kitchari, massage and herbalized steam therapy, dosha appropriate yoga asana and one or more cleansing therapie depending on your constitution.If it isn't practical for you to undertake PK this spring consider the following options:• 3 days of a strict vegan diet• eliminating coffee and/or alcohol for a period of time• taking a technology fastWhen we use nature as an example and follow her lead, we embrace the dynamic dance of cleansing and tonifying. Spring is a season for cleansing. If we take care to remove excess kapha dosha through diet, lifestyle and panchakarma, we won't suffer the effects of residual dosha which can later manifest into disease.Cheers to a thorough spring cleaning!!By Eliza KerrFor more information on panchakarma and Ayurveda in the Yosemite region, visit www.elizakerr.com
My mission is to provide you with the support and education you need to feel your best. I aim to provide the greater Yosemite area with a trusted source of holistic health care.
Eliza wil be offering a FREE workshop for Yosemite locals April 15th 7-8:30pm at the DNC Wellness Center:
Harmonizing with the Seasons: Ayurvedic Recommendations for Spring in Yosemite.
Join Ayurvedic practitioner Eliza Kerr for a free workshop introducing diet, lifestyle and cleansing recommendations to stay healthy this spring and feel your best.