AYURVEDA
om
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIFTof renewed
strength the winter season brings us
each year!
With the increase of the earth and
ether elements, (kapha) over the last
few months, you may have noticed
yourself going within, doing slightly less
out in the world, and being attracted to
foods and activities that were more
grounding and building in nature, such
as eating more root vegetables, grains,
breads and creamy sweet treats. On a
lifestyle level, you may have stayed
indoors a little more, enjoyed sleeping
in or cosying up with your favourite
magazine.
This is the influence of winter’s
earthy qualities and it is a super-
nourishing and vital seasonal phase that
we journey through each year. Winters’
womb allows us to more naturally rest,
rebuild, reflect and be more ‘yin’. With
winter complete, it is now time to
prepare our bodies and minds for the
warmer months ahead. Spring in
Ayurveda is a time for new beginnings,
a fresh start. In nature, a tree sheds its
leaves in the autumn, hibernates in the
winter and then blossoms with new,(^22) fresh life in the spring. Spring is a
october 2017
yogajournal.com.au
Spring
AWAKENING
Welcome the change of season and lighten up with
these three simple Ayurvedic food and lifestyle tips
for healthy digestion, good immunity, and a positive
state of mind. By Lorien Waldron
time to renew and it is one of the
most powerful times of the year to
cleanse, creating a fresh canvas for
the new you, including new food and
lifestyle habits.
As we emerge from the cocoon of
winter, we can give our body and mind
fresh space and time for renewal with
these simple and practical Ayurvedic
food and lifestyle tips:
- Wake up with intention
Harmonise your body and mind with
the seasonal change in the outside
environment by waking up early. Move
your body first thing: go for a brisk
walk, perform some sun-salutes and
balance your mind with meditation and
pranayama practices. Waking up before
6am, drinking some warm water,
completing your Ayurvedic morning
routine and getting your body moving
will promote optimal detoxification
through the bowels, improved
metabolism and will strengthen your
digestive fire (agni), helping to boost
your immunity and make you feel a lot
lighter in body and mind. For Ayurvedic
inspiration on morning rituals, head
back to page 18. PHOTO: ALEKSANDARNAKIC/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
2. Swap heavy foods for lighter
more warming options
Replace wheat and wheat products with
lighter options such as quinoa (whole
and flaked), buckwheat flour, millet,
amaranth and/or brown or basmati rice.
Opt for dairy-free milk, yoghurt and
cheese alternatives, (or have a break from
these more dense foods for a while), and
go for light, warm, moist and hydrating
fresh foods such as veggie soups, watery
dhals, fresh veggie juices, fresh leafy
greens with a light oil dressing and
extra-fresh lemon squeezed on your
meals to help in the breakdown of any
heavy, oily, sludgy build-up that may
have accumulated during winter’s intake.
Avoid processed foods, processed sugars,
and dense deep-fried oily heavy foods.
For more Ayurvedic tips on eating
seasonally, continue to page 44.
3. Do a mono fast
Simplifying the food we eat is one of
the best ways to give the body a rest and
promote detoxification, repair and
lightness in body and mind. For three
to five days, simplify the food you eat.
Remove all processed foods including
wheat, bread, pasta, dairy and sugars.
Instead, focus on eating fresh, alive and
moist foods to give your digestive system
a rest and re-hydrate your organs. Enjoy
fresh soups, vegetable juices, ginger tea
during the day, herbal teas, steamed
veggies and, when you feel like
something more grounding, quinoa or
plain brown rice. (Note: if mono fasting
or spring cleansing is new to you, it is
worth approaching this protocol with
the guidance of an experienced Ayurvedic
Consultant or health practitioner who
can support you.)
Spring is a magical time of year and
there’s no better time to love your body
and nurture it.Happy spring!Lorien Waldron is an
Ayurvedic health
and lifestyle consultant who
works on physical and
energetic levels, believing
in a holistic approach to
health. She is a yoga and
cooking teacher with a passion for
organic wholefoods, plant-based
nutrition, digestive health and intuitive
eating. She is the founder of Wholesome
Loving Goodness and author of e-Book,
Simple Ayurveda in the Kitchen.
wholesomelovinggoodness.com