Ayurvedic Support For The Winter To Spring Transition
Here in Boulder, Winter is kind of a mercurial thing. Winter storms dump a foot of snow one day, only to be melted away in spring-like temps the next. It's as though we shift between the seasons every week.
For those of you who have been with me for a while, you know that our yoga practice, our diet, even our lifestyle are meant to shift with the seasons in order to keep our bodies and minds in balance. So what do we do when the seasons seem like they are out of balance?
Thankfully, there are a few simple practices that are ideal to incorporate whether you are experiencing a mercurial winter in Boulder with me, you are on the west coast in an unusually early Spring, or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere.
The transition from Winter to Spring should focus on removing stagnation, supporting our body’s detox pathways, all while honoring the environment we find ourselves in- i.e. staying warm and bundled if it’s still wintery outside.
Here are the practices I’m leaning on to help support my health and immunity this time of year.
Abhyanga or warm oil massage. I recommend this a lot! In fact, you've probably heard about it before but you may not have started doing it just yet. But why? When there are so many benefits to it:
It helps moisturize dry skin.
It's a lymphatic massage that helps reduce stagnation, eliminates toxins, and encourages healthy flow and glowing, healthy skin.
It's soothing to the nervous system and helps reduce our stress hormones.
Promotes restful, healthy sleep patterns.
You can read a short description of how to do Abhyanga here. The method is important as it supports lymphatic flow in addition to moisturizing the skin. The type of oil matters too. Below is a link to my favorite all-around oil, meaning it’s good for all doshas (Ayurvedic mind-body types).
Use the discount code ASHLEY15 to get 15 % off :)
Dry Brush. Dry Brushing is a very simple technique that exfoliates the skin and stimulates the lymphatic system, supporting our body's natural ability to remove the toxins and waste (Ama in Sanskrit) that tend to accumulate in winter months.
How to: Get a dry brush like the one pictured here. Before bathing, brush the entire length of your body in long, gentle strokes. As with oil massage, start at the extremities and brush towards your heart. You can skip sensitive areas like the face and breasts (oil massage is better for breast care, but that’s a post in and of itself).
When to do it: I prefer to do this in the morning as it is stimulating to the nervous system, but it can also be done before a warm bath or oil massage in the evening. It's more important that you find a time in your day that works rather than getting too pedantic about the protocol!
Support Your Liver. Winter is a time of accumulation in our bodies. The natural slowing of our metabolism in winter months coupled with a little hibernation and rest means that our bodies accumulate, not only a little extra fat (needed for the winter months so try to be kind to yourself about it!), but also the toxins, waste, or ama (in Sanskrit) that also get stored in that extra layer.
As we move into spring and our bodies start their natural detox processes that means a lot of extra work for our liver. Our liver has to process pretty much everything that goes into our bodies and everything that we start to shed and release in the Spring.
The practices above (dry brushing and abhyanga) support our body’s natural detox pathways, but we have to make sure our liver is healthy and able to filter the toxins we are releasing.
Here are some powerful ways to support your Liver:
Eat your greens. Especially the slightly bitter ones like Dandelion leaf or Kale. Also, beets, beans, and spices like turmeric, cumin, fenugreek all help your liver do its many, many jobs.
Eat your last meal by 7 pm and try to get to bed by 10 pm. A big ask, I know! Changing bedtime routines is hard so just do your best! Your liver has to process all the food in your body first and only then does it get a little rest. Your liver rests when you do, hence the early bedtime.
Minimize sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. Again, all hard habits to break, so just do what you can! Your liver will thank you :)
For a little extra support, add this formula of herbs from Banyan Botanicals. Use Discount code ASHLEY15 for 15% off at checkout.
Exercise to break a sweat. It’s time to get a little more vigorous with our yoga practice and exercise. No need to overdo it for you Pitta-types, but exercise until you break a sweat whether that be a brisk walk, a short run, even a HIIT class if that’s your thing. Your yoga practice likewise can do with a little more movement and intensity.
Try one of these:
