March: SPICE It Up
Keep’n It Spicy
We are full ON in Kapha season as the wet, cold & heavy qualities of early spring make their appearance. Ayurveda teaches that what happens externally also happens internally, as we embody the elemental nature of our environs. It’s common throughout the spring season to experience lack of motivation, brain fog, or to have strong emotional reactions. These are signs of excess Kapha, as the external world begins to take up residence internally.
Kapha is associated with the earth (prithvi) and water (aap) elements—it represents nourishment, construction, and lubrication in the body. When Kapha is balanced in the mind-body system, it offers a deep sense of stability & inner calm. You’ll also benefit from high endurance & stamina, enjoy a strong immune system, and may even experience more nurturing vibes. However, experiencing an imbalanced Kapha will often unveil resistance to change, emotions of attachment (objects/relationships/jobs/habits/thought patterns, etc.), motivational struggles, weight gain, swelling, and congestion in body & mind. Don’t stress! As always, Ayurveda’s got you.
Engaging in energizing, invigorating & fun physical activities is incredibly healing and balancing during Kapha season. Mix things up! If you find yourself stuck in a monotonous routine of exercise (vyayama), seek ways to spice it up with adventure & play. Grab a friend, and try something new. If possible, it’s best to exercise between 6:00-10:00 (am or pm)—however, if those times don’t work for you, choose when does. Just get that body move’n & groove’n!
We’ve spent the winter months hibernating, eating heavy & grounding meals, and building up immunity. Now it’s time to lighten the load! Begin favoring more bitter and astringent foods (all those leafy greens!), lighter meals, and keep things warm & circulating with lots of spices. There are many Kapha supporting spices, but here’s some tasty ones to favor: ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne, mustard seed, bay, oregano….all the spices, really! Just use all the spice. And don’t forget to cook your food! Eating cooked food, while avoiding too much raw intake, will help keep Kapha balanced, uplifted & energized.
There’s lots of recipes come’n at ya in March! Use them over the next couple of months to help maintain energy, vitality & to tap into that natural, inner Kapha rhythm. Spring, we’re come’n for ya! Full of positive, vibe’n intentions & excitement for the return of the sun.
Cough & Congestion Remedy
Tis’ the season for cough and congestion! As the season begins to swing into springtime, there’s an increase of moisture, mucous buildup & lung congestion. This recipe will thin the mucous & help break up excess Kapha hanging out in the body system. Your lungs (and diaphragm) will thank you!
*This recipe is NOT appropriate for a dry cough.
What You Need:
1 tsp Raw Honey
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 tsp Ginger Powder
1/8 tsp Pippali powder
Pinch, Cinnamon Powder
•Mix ingredients with 1/4 cup warm water (it’s important to use warm water and not cold water)
•Take upon waking, and again in the afternoon until symptoms clear
KAPHA Skincare
As the moisture in the air increases, so does the moisture in our bodies. For some, this will be a welcomed transition! However, those with Kapha skin type, may find this shift undesirable as they struggle to keep the excess sebum, moisture & acne in check. Every season is about finding the balance of opposites, and Ayurveda offers beautiful insight into maintaining happy, healthy skin throughout spring.
Kapha-type skin is moist by nature, with larger pores, and thicker skin that’s cool to the touch. Due to the water (aap) and earth (prithvi) elements, Kapha-type skin is fortified with more collagen than other skin types. Not only does that mean the skin is soft, smooth & supple, but those with Kapha-type skin are also blessed with less signs of aging. However, it’s especially important during the late winter and spring (now!) to include ingredients that foster detoxifying & scraping (lekhana) effects to help balance the excess moisture & sebum production.
After you cleanse (with the cleanser below), gently massage oil onto the skin for a boost of nourishment & circulation. Almond oil and corn oil are especially beneficial during the wet season. You can also add rosemary, basil, sage, cedar, eucalyptus or ginger essential oil to energize the body, stimulate the lymphatic movement, and encourage circulation. All things good during Kapha season!
This Ayurvedic skin cleanser recipe will gently detoxify & balance the skin, remove impurities, heal blemishes, stimulate circulation, calm inflammation, control oil production, regenerate, purify, brighten, and enhance your skin’s complexion back to that beautiful glow. Cleanse. Refresh. Radiate. Ahhhh, yes.
If you’re experiencing dry skin, the Kapha cleanser will not be appropriate for you to use, as it aids in absorbing excess moisture. Instead, continue (or start) using the Vata cleanser, found in the December content.
What You Need:
4 parts Rice, Barley -or- Millet Flour
2 parts French Green Clay
1 part each:
Bibhitaki Powder
Calamus Powder
Gokshura Powder
Punarnava Powder
Tulsi Powder
Ginger Powder
1/8 part each:
Cinnamon Powder
Clove Powder
Just a pinch! Turmeric Powder
What To Do:
Daily Cleanser: Mix (about) 1.5 tsp of cleanser with (about) 1.5 tsp of water. Apply to face, neck and décolletage. Gently exfoliate in a circular, upward motion. Rinse with warm water, and pat to dry. Don’t forget your face oil!
Mask: Use as a mask 1-3 times per week for added benefit. Apply to skin, and allow to dry for about 10 minutes. Rinse off. Oil up. Enjoy!
Lightly tap around the face with your fingertips to energize, stimulate circulation, and to encourage openness. Plus, it feels nice! So many bonuses.
Mountain Rose Herbs and Banyan Botanicals are both great for finding organically & sustainably grown herbs and spices. You can find ingredients for the cleanser recipe, here:
Banyan Botanicals: www.banyanbotanicals.com
Mountain Rose Herbs: www.mountainroseherbs.com
Interested in checking out small-business, women-owned companies who have created Ayurvedic cleansers for you? Excellent! Find beautifully crafted products, here:
NĀO AYURVEDA: www.naoayurveda.com
PAAVANI AYURVEDA: www.paavaniayurveda.com
Lion’s Breath
The Lion’s Breath (Simha Kriya) cleanses & revitalizes the organs, stimulates the throat & tonsils (subject to congestion through springtime), encourages circulation, and supports the lymphatic system in ridding the body of toxins. Find your inner ROAR and let it out! I know you’ve got it.
Garshana
(Dry Skin Brushing)
Garshana is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment also known as dry skin brushing. Raw silk gloves are used to exfoliate & tone the skin, stimulate the lymphatic system, support immune health, promote mental alertness, release accumulated toxins, and enhance blood circulation. If your skin is prone to dryness -or- if you experience mental anxiety & nervousness, it’s best to follow garshana with an herbal oil treatment (abhyanga self-massage). This will help calm the nervous system, while also leaving the skin supple & rejuvenated.
Detox the lymphatic system, refresh your skin & revive the mind! It’s time to get yourself a pair of mitts.
Detoxifying Bath Ritual
The water and earth elements are in abundance during Kapha season as they put on rainstorm shows & prepare the ground to bloom, open & come to life. With springtime will often emerge heavy emotions, expectations, and attachments. There may also be an increase in congestion, stagnation, and body swelling. This means, it’s time to sweat (svedana) it out! This classic Ayurvedic detoxification bath recipe is excellent for purging toxins, soothing sore muscles & joints, exfoliating & brightening the skin, while also uplifting & energizing the soul.
Grab some candles, herbal tea, music jams of choice, and get sweating!
What You Need:
1.5 cups Epsom Salt
1/2 cup Himalayan Sea Salt
1/2 cup Baking Soda
10 drops Essential Oil—lemon, orange or lemongrass are all great choices to encourage a spirit uplift
*Omit the ginger if you’re experiencing any rashes, skin irritations, or know that you have a current Pitta condition. Ginger is very heating, and will increase the condition.
Take time after the bath to sit quietly and notice any expectations, attachments, or self-limiting thought patterns you may be holding onto. Breathe deeply, feeling the body expand, and exhale the air out with a slow “haaaaaaa” sound. Repeat several times. Releasing & re-wiring self-limiting thought patterns takes time. Recognizing them—with gentleness and love—is the first step. Be gentle with yourself & breathe.
Baked Grapefruit Recipe
This easy and delicious baked grapefruit recipe makes a perfect breakfast as we shift out of winter and into spring. It helps pacify both Vata & Kapha, supports immunity, cleanses, detoxifies, stimulates digestion (agni), and encourages stagnation to get a’move’n. Just what Kapha ordered!
Ayurveda recommends only eating fruit with other fruit— especially avoiding the combination of dairy & fruit. Because of fruit’s natural, fermentative nature & the speed at which it digests, combining other foods can cause a buildup of toxins (ama) in the body.
What You Need:
Grapefruit
1 Tbsp Raw Honey
1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
*This recipe is base on 1 serving, bake as many grapefruit as desired!
What To Do:
•Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
•Slice grapefruit in half & sprinkle with spices
•Bake 10-15 minutes
•Remove & drizzle with honey
•Eat, savor, and feel light!
Many thanks to Maharishi Ayurveda for this lovely recipe.