Seasons According To Ayurveda - Made Easy!!
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All content included on this website (including, but not limited to, images, photos, graphics and text) is the property of ‘Healthy Ayurveda’ and ‘Vedic Sage’ and as such is protected by US and international copyright and other intellectual property laws.
Important: Seasons vary according to region.
This is intended to be a guide for the Northern Hemisphere [i.e. U.S.A]
Healthy living is centered around creating a daily routine and a healthy routine helps to establish balance in our lives. In order to determine an appropriate routine, we first need to understand the significance of each season. The wisdom of Ayurveda, stresses great importance on the transition between two seasons. One can think of this transition as a door from one season to the next. As we pass through this transition, we should consider a new lifestyle and new attitude as we pass from the old season and enter into a new season.
Spring Season
Spring is a time of new beginnings. This is a time when nature, once again, comes to life as flowers bloom, birds sing and people generally feel more energized. Often the first signs of spring, especially after a long cold winter, are described as God himself breathing new fresh life into his creation. In fact, Lord Krishna [in the Bhagavad Gita] explains when describing himself, “I am the Soul in the body, the mind in the senses, the eagle amongst birds and the lion amongst animals. Among all the trees I am the sacred bodhi tree, and of the season, I am spring.” More simply, spring is the king of all seasons.
The warmth of spring melts the winter snow which brings about moisture to the atmosphere. Similarly, Ayurveda speaks about the springtime warmth also melting the accumulated cold quality of “kapha dosha” which liquefies and often manifest as “hay fever” [i.e. nasal congestion, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, postnasal drip, and cough].
Do’s
The goal during spring season is to pacify kapha with foods that are light and easily digestible. Foods that are particularly bitter, pungent, and astringent as these tastes are considered kapha pacifying – or that which helps to reduce kapha.
Organic Kapha Churna Stimulating Spice Mix
Ready-to-use spice mixtures satisfy the six ayurvedic tastes considered essential for balance. Organic Stimulating Kapha Churna includes ginger, coriander and turmeric.
Don’ts
Avoid food which are heavy and oily while minimizing tastes which are sweet, sour and salty – as these flavors increase kapha. Instead, we should consider foods which are pungent, bitter, astringent – since these tastes naturally help to reduce kapha.
Examples Springtime foods – which help pacify kapha
- Legumes: split pea, red lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans
- Grains: amaranth, barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rye
- Fruits: apples, apricots, berries, cherries, mangoes, peaches, pomegranates, pears
- Veggies: artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, okra, spinach
Click Here: For More Information On Spring Considerations
Also Keep In Mind:
Late Spring ... Pitta Begins To Increase
Summer Season ...
Ayurveda describes the summer heat as being “pitta-aggravating” which implies provoking the fire element within. It’s intuitive that the basic goal during summer is to stay cool. The foods to favor during summer consist of bitter, astringent, healthy sweet, light and easily digestible foods. One should especially enjoy the great variety of colors of vegetables and fruits such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, cauliflower, turnips, purple potatoes, karela (bitter gourd), cabbage, dandelion, burdock, lettuce, neem, green beans, peas, cucumber, zucchini, yellow squash, apples, pears, sweet berries, ripe mango, peach and watermelon. Prepare the foods with spices such as fennel, coriander, cardamom, cilantro, and coconut. When cooking beets, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, okra, spinach, and chard, make sure to include a lot of cooling foods such as coconut, cucumber and cilantro in the menu – especially when living in places where the summer heat is intense.
Click Here: For More Information On Summer Considerations
Pearl Of Wisdom:
During the hot summer season, you may have noticed that your digestion is not as strong. That being the case you may want to consider ghee to help improve digestion and to also help cool the body. “Ghee is a pitta pacifying substance that is useful in summer and bitter ghee (called tikta ghrita) is especially cooling, as it contains a number of bitter herbs, including neem. Ayurvedic literature says that taking 1/2 teaspoon of bitter ghee on an empty stomach on summer mornings will improve digestive functions and control pitta dosha.” – Dr. Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S.
Towards The End Of Summer,
Vata Begins To Increase.
Autumn Season
The qualities of autumn depict the element of “air” which can easily be understood by the nature of wind. The wind during this time of year becomes more gusty and naturally tends to dry the body [i.e. dry skin, dry eyes, constipation, etc.]. From an Ayurvedic perspective this season is thought to aggravate “vata”. Vata regulates all movement within the body with a special function of communication. Although the principle of vata permeates the entire body, its main sites of the body mostly include the central nervous system, the colon, skeletal system [hair & teeth] and skin. Therefore, as we prepare for autumn season and while keeping the totality of body-mind in perspective it is also important to take these special attributes of vata into consideration.
Other Seasonal Considerations For Autumn:
– eat warming, soothing, and easily digestible meals
– eat foods which are primarily sweet, sour and salty in taste
– drink warming herbal teas such as ginger, cinnamon and cardamom tea
– keep warm and stay out of strong winds
– do regular yoga, meditation, and pranayama breathing exercises
Click Here: For More Information On Autumn Season
Towards The End Of Autumn & Throughout Winter Kapha Increases.
Winter Season
Winter is a time when nature’s energy withdraws back unto herself as nature’s many expressions begin to slow down. According to Ayurveda, a person is a miniature reflection of nature and winter represents a time for much needed restoration. Every season has certain attributes which may cause aggravation and imbalances of doshas. For example, winter is generally considered a “kapha season”. Therefore, colds and other kapha conditions [i.e. congestion] are more common as the heavy, cold, and cohesive qualities of kapha are predominant.
Generally, the food we eat during winter season should be warming, nourishing, and mildly spicy. Likewise, we should avoid cold food and flavors which are excessively sweet, sour, or salty as these are all considered “kapha provoking” and will therefore further increase congestion.
Breakfast
Warm and nourishing breakfast many consist of a small bowl of porridge, oatmeal, cornmeal, barley soup, or kitchari.
Amrit Kalash Ambrosia
Amrit Kalash in the morning is great to help keep your energy and immunity intact and is especially beneficial during winter season. Amrit Kalash is a traditional ayurvedic formula of 13 herbs that supports the health of mind, brain, and nerves; increases vitality and inner strength; powerful antioxidant — research shows it to be up to 1,000 times more effective than vitamins C and E
Full-spectrum antioxidant: targets mind & nervous system
- 1000x more effective in eliminating free radicals (the root cause of aging) than vitamins C or E1
- powerful food for the brain
- significantly boosts immunity & vitality
- best taken with Amrit Nectar
- vata, pitta, kapha balancing (vpk®)
Tea
About an hour after breakfast, consider sipping on kapha tea which contains ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, saffron, and black pepper – all help to improve digestion and help to eliminate mucus from the body.
Organic Stimulating Tea
The perfect answer when you’re feeling sluggish or heavy — spicy tea
Lunch
Lunch is to be eaten around noon as hunger will naturally occur. Lunch should be nourishing and wholesome such as steamed vegetables, warm soups, bread and delicious ghee. It’s best to avoid meals which are cold as this will impair the digestive fire “agni”. To improve digestion, we can add certain spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.
Stimulating Spice Mix
Our ready-to-use spice mixtures satisfy the six ayurvedic tastes considered essential for balance. Organic Stimulating Kapha Churna includes ginger, coriander and turmeric.
Dinner
It’s best to avoid having dinner too late and 5-7pm is often ideal. Again, dinner should be warm and nourishing while avoiding excessive sweet, sour or salty tastes; as these flavors increase kapha dosha.
Dinner Drink
Ayurveda suggest that it may be beneficial to occasionally have a glass of dry and warming wine during the winter season as this will encourage circulation and help to stimulate digestion.
Bedtime
As the winter nights get darker earlier, it’s wise to go to bed earlier. Before heading off to bed you may want to consider a delicious cup of hot spicy milk. Spices such as nutmeg are calming and help to promote sound sleep.
Blissful Sleep
Natural sleep aid for falling asleep faster and enjoying deeper, more refreshing sleep; balances, and nourishes.
Deep Rest
To support sleeping through the night; helps in falling asleep more easily, and in returning to sleep when awakened.
All content included on this website (including, but not limited to, images, photos, graphics and text) is the property of ‘Healthy Ayurveda’ and ‘Vedic Sage’ and as such is protected by US and international copyright and other intellectual property laws.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.
Are We More Than Just The Physical Body?
Are We More Than Just The Physical Body?
The science of Yoga and Ayurveda are not separate but rather an integrated study - a complete & total science. In fact, the science of Ayurveda was never meant to be fragmented just as ancient physicians were well versed in astrology and various other aspects of alchemy. The understanding of both Yoga and Ayurveda helps to better comprehend that life is made up of [multidimensional] realms. More simply, the mental, emotional, and spiritual realms comprise our human experience. At times, we mistakenly perceive ourselves as merely a physical body and other times we identify ourselves with random thoughts and/or feelings. However, the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda reveals that we exist within dimensional realms [of reality] governed by sheaths or “koshas” which create our individual experiences.
The Different Koshas & Living From The Heart!!
“The Five Koshas”
We, as human beings, are not merely physical but instead an expansive energetic system organized by different layers of consciousness. According to this ancient thought, we are the summation of five layers or sheaths. These five sheaths are called “koshas” which are all connected. The koshas, which are connected and inter-related provides a model to help explain how our consciousness manifests itself as a physical, mental, and spiritual body.
1. Annamaya Kosha - The Physical Body
Anna means “food” and the physical body requires food for its very existence. Interestingly, maya means “illusion” and provides us a hint of our true identity. More simply, the body is not permanent nor is the physical body our true identity. Just as the wave is not separate from the ocean. Similarly, the human being [i.e. the wave] is not separate from all of existence [i.e. the ocean]. However, identifying strictly with the physical body creates the illusion that one is separate from all that is of the universe.
Nourishing Your Physical Body
Nourishing the body begins with a healthy daily routine otherwise known as "dinacharya". According to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, health rests upon a foundation of balance – balanced doshas, balanced digestion, and restful sleep. If any one of these pillars of balance becomes weakened, then the overall health and well-being of a person will be affected.
Balanced Doshas
In managing any imbalance, Ayurveda determines which dosha [or combination of doshas] that may be out of balance and therefore takes steps to help normalize it, according to one’s unique tendencies. This process helps to seek out the root cause of any imbalance rather than treating mere symptoms.
Organic Herbal Teas
Organic Calming Vata Tea which is a sweet, soothing choice to help restore balance quickly whenever life gets too hectic. Organic Cooling Pitta Tea has fragrant rose petals combined with spices to help cool down mind, body and emotions. Finally, Organic Stimulating Kapha Tea is the perfect answer when you’re feeling sluggish or heavy — spicy tea!
Balanced Digestion
Ayurveda has described the underlying function of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni [“Fire”]. Regarding the importance of Agni, the father of Ayurveda – Charak stated that when Agni of the individual is balanced then that person would be absolutely healthy and would lead a long, happy and healthy life.
Herbal Di-Gest
Supports improved digestion and balanced appetite; helps with gas, bloating, and discomfort.
Organic Digest Tone (Triphala Plus)
Supports digestive system and elimination; assists body in absorbing nutrients; high-quality antioxidant; wide range of benefits.
Practical Tips To Help Improve Digestion:
Although very simple these basic principles, if followed routinely, are often enough to improve your digestion and overall health. Often it’s the simple things that are most effective and oddly enough – overlooked. That said, let’s quickly take a look at the basics.
– All food should be freshly prepared, nutritious, and appetizing
– Food should generally contain all 6 tastes balanced to one’s needs
– We should leave 4-6 hours between meals with no snacking in between
– Eat your largest meal during the day when the sun it at its peak
– Relax and enjoy your meals in a calm soothing environment
Deep Rest & Blissful Sleep:
It’s nearly impossible to be healthy without adequate sleep. Sleep is essential for the maintenance and repair of the neurological, endocrine, immune, musculoskeletal and digestive systems. Rather, sleep is necessary for all systems of the body. Period. 8 Tips For Sound Sleep
Deep Rest
Deep Rest to support sleeping deeply through the night. This herbal formula is especially targeted for those who have difficulty staying asleep, waking up in the middle of the night. But it also helps those who have difficulty falling asleep and those who awaken early in the morning after less than six hours of sleep. The herbs in Deep Rest help you to sleep deeply throughout the night — and wake up feeling refreshed, ready to take on the day.
Blissful Sleep
The herbs in the Blissful Sleep formula produce a calming, balancing effect on the body, mind and emotions. You’ll find sleep becoming deeper and more restful. And you’ll wake up recharged, vitally alive, ready to take on the challenges of the day ahead.
2. Pranamaya Kosha - The Breath or Life-Force
Prana can be thought of as the subtle life-giving energy that flows in the air that we breathe. This subtle and unseen energy flows at the level of the nadis which channel throughout the body also known as the marma and chakra systems. “Prana” is breath or life-giving energy and “ayama” means control. Therefore, exercises such as “pranayama”, help to promote vitality by focusing on this life-giving force.
Taking Care Of Your Life-Force
Breath is essential to life. This demonstrates firsthand how the breath is directly connected to the mind. It’s the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do when we leave. The mind, body, and breath are intimately connected and directly influence each other. Our breathing is influenced by our thoughts, and our thoughts and physiology can be influenced by our breath. The ascetic yogis have known for centuries that the breath has amazing recuperative and rejuvenating powers. By controlling the breath, the yogis were able to alter their state of mind - rather, they were able to directly perceive the various “koshas” which create our state of being. For example, Nadi Shodhana, or “alternate nostril breathing,” is a simple yet powerful technique that helps settle the mind, body, and emotions. Nadi shodhana is particularly helpful to ease racing thoughts especially if you’re experiencing anxiety, stress, or having trouble falling asleep.
3. Manamaya Kosha - The Mind or Mental Body
Manas means “mind” and this includes all thoughts, feelings, and emotions from the common to mundane aspects of life. Often, we associate our mental state with the brain. However, according to Ayurveda and Yoga, the entire central nervous system meditates the mind which is further governed and influenced by an even further subtle energy system [i.e. nadis and chakra system] of pranamaya kosha; as explained above. We are now beginning to see how all the systems are inter-related and connected. Similarly, certain herbs have a higher vibrational energy which can influence the mind and our ability to think and experience emotions.
Herbs To Enhance The Mind
Ayurveda talks highly about a special class of herbs called “Medhya” herbs. Ultimately, by providing nourishment to the brain, these herbs are especially useful for the mind and helps to enhance learning while improving both the retention and recall of knowledge.
Intelligence Plus
Promotes natural intelligence; rejuvenates mental processes; supports attention span and concentration; promotes positive emotions and self-confidence.
Mind Plus
Stress and fatigue can diminish mental strength and clarity. Support mental functioning under stress and revitalize the mind with Mind Plus.
Organic Youthful Mind
Supports mental functioning as one ages; removes toxins that impede learning, memory, and recall; promotes the development of consciousness.
Taking Care Of Your Mental Body
Mantras are medicine for the Soul. The word “mantra” can be broken down into two parts: “man,” which means mind, and “tra,” which means transport or vehicle. Therefore, a mantra is an instrument —a powerful sound or vibration that you can use to enter a deep state of meditation.
4. Gyanamaya Kosha - Intellect, Wisdom & Intuition
Gyana means “intellect” and gyanamaya kosha provides the ability of discernment. However, the meaning is even more subtle in that it implies the ability to connect to the innate intelligence of the body and embodies the hidden potential of the higher mind. In a sense, this form of intellect is beyond thought and gives us the sense that something is right and rings true; i.e. intuition. Often, profound moments of clarity arise when gaining access and tapping into the higher mind through various acts of meditation, dreams, being in nature, or simply sitting quietly in contemplation.
How To Care For Your Gyanamaya Kosha
Spiritual understanding becomes the “food” which nourishes your intellect. For example, “Jnana yoga”, also called gyana yoga, explores the truth about who we really are and the full realization of this truth brings about enlightenment. In other words, Jnana Yoga uses the intellect as a tool to understand that our true Self is behind and beyond our mind. To understand this, the mind negates all preconceived ideas [i.e. dogma] of what one thinks one is - and simply asks the question, “Who am I?”. By meditating on this one question - wisdom naturally arises spontaneously.
5. Anandamaya Kosha - Bliss Body
Ananda means “bliss” and anandamaya kosha represents the highest realm of consciousness, which is bliss. In this state of being, one experiences joy and ecstasy and is the state of mind which our spiritual masters were inspired to speak from. It seems that research centered around the benefits of meditation have now been rolling in steadily validating the ancient wisdom common to both Ayurveda and Yoga. Ayurveda is an ancient science which literally means ‘the science of life’. A basic fundamental premise to both Ayurveda and Yoga is that – both a sound mind and sound body are integral to one’s overall health and well-being.
Stress Free Mind
Stress Free Mind supports natural resistance to daily mental stress and fatigue. This potent blend of whole herbal extracts, powders, and minerals nourishes and supports the immune system, which is often taxed by everyday mental stress.
How To Feed Your Anandamaya Kosha
Devotion and Bhakti Yoga helps to open our heart to the all-pervading consciousness. By providing seva or “selfless service” in a loving state without the expectation of something to be returned is the nourishment of our bliss body.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you,
where there were only walls.”
- Joseph Campbell
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.
Boost Your Immunity For The Winter
Boost Your Immunity For The Winter
Despite the immune system doing an incredibly remarkable job defending against disease causing germs - at times, it fails. The good news is that you don’t need to travel far in order to help boost your immunity. In fact, most of what you need is already right in your kitchen. The immune system is just that, a system. Therefore, in order for the immune system to function optimally it requires balance and harmony which can be established by lifestyle considerations such as proper diet, spices, herbal preparations, and finally - deep rest and blissful sleep.
Immune Boosting Food
Winter is a season to eat plentiful nourishing and warm food to help enhance the immune system. Generally, the food we eat during winter season should be warming, nourishing, and mildly spicy. Likewise, we should avoid cold food and flavors which are excessively sweet, sour, or salty as these are all considered “kapha provoking”. Nourishing foods to consider are wholesome grains such as rice and couscous; sweet juicy fruits such as cooked apples or pears; squashes, zucchini, and asparagus, and vegetable proteins such as mung dhal.
5 Foods To Keep Your Immune System Strong
Mung Dhal Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup split mung dhal
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon ghee
- 1 teaspoon “Organic Churna Spice Mix”
Organic Calming Vata Churna Spice Mix
Ready-to-use spice mixtures satisfy the six ayurvedic tastes considered essential for balance. Organic Calming Vata Churna is a blend of seven ingredients, including cumin, ginger and fenugreek.
Organic Cooling Pitta Churna Spice Mix or
Ready-to-use spice mixtures satisfy the six ayurvedic tastes considered essential for balance. Organic Cooling Pitta Churna features coriander, cardamom and turmeric.
Organic Stimulating Kapha Churna Spice Mix
Ready-to-use spice mixtures satisfy the six ayurvedic tastes considered essential for balance. Organic Stimulating Kapha Churna includes ginger, coriander and turmeric.
Directions
- Heat dhal (dry) in skillet for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Boil water separately.
- Add dhal, and stir briefly.
- Boil about 20 minutes, until dhal is tender — soft.
- Season with churna of your choice.
- Heat ghee. Add all seasonings and stir until they give a sudden burst of aroma.
- Then pour over dhal, stir once and cover immediately.
- Let stand covered for 5 minutes to absorb.
To Make Kichari:
Kichari is a very nourishing mix of both rice and mung dhal. To prepare, just follow the steps above for mung dhal, but add an equal amount of rice when you add the dhal. Other directions remain the same.
Spices & Herbs
In order to enhance the digestive fire [“agni”] and help prevent the formation of toxins [“ama”] consider cooking your food with immune-enhancing spices such as cumin, fennel, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and black pepper. Likewise, certain herbal formulations such as Herbal Di-Gest will also help to enhance digestion and consider Herbal Cleanse at night if feeling constipated.
Amrit Kalash Ambrosia
Amrit Kalash in the morning is great to help keep your energy and immunity intact and is especially beneficial during winter season. Amrit Kalash is a traditional ayurvedic formula of 13 herbs that supports the health of mind, brain, and nerves; increases vitality and inner strength; powerful antioxidant — research shows it to be up to 1,000 times more effective than vitamins C and E
Full-spectrum antioxidant: targets mind & nervous system
- 1000x more effective in eliminating free radicals (the root cause of aging) than vitamins C or E1
- powerful food for the brain
- significantly boosts immunity & vitality
- best taken with Amrit Nectar
- vata, pitta, kapha balancing (vpk®)
Other Recommendations:
Bio-Immune tablets, Sniffle Free tablets, and Cold Weather Defense tablets are all immune-enhancing herbal supplements that you can take during the winter season to prevent respiratory problems.
Bio-Immune is a powerful supplement that strengthens neuro-immunal responses, purifies the liver and blood, and dissolves ama and amavisha. Take one tablet of Bio-Immune each morning and evening to enhance overall immunity.
Cold Weather Defense offers nutritional support to strengthen the body's natural immunity. It regulates fluid balance and mucus in the lungs and sinuses; removes toxins and shleshma from the lungs, and cleanses the microcirculatory channels that have been blocked by ama. It boosts immunity and removes toxins that weaken resistance.
Sniffle Free is aimed more at the upper respiratory system, and bolsters the body's natural resistance to the cold. Sniffle Free helps clear the channels, and when that happens, shleshma can be drained from the body. It strengthens the digestive fire, balances the production of moisture and mucus, improves resistance to cold temperatures, and enhances the bioavailability and circulation of vital nutrients.
Lifestyle
Oil Massage & Warm Bath
It’s especially important to maintain inner warmth during winter season and there is nothing better than a warm bath which helps to open the pores and help regulate the body’s internal thermostat. Likewise, a daily ayurvedic massage before a warm bath helps to open the bodily channels, remove toxins, and help pacify the doshas [vata-pitta-kapha] all which help to strengthen the immune system. It’s important to note that an oil massage is NOT recommended if you already have an acute infection as this may worsen the disease process.
Organic Sesame Oil
Enhance immunity and experience a sense of well-being. Our pure golden Sesame Oil is organic, extra-light, chemical-free and cold-pressed, allowing its chemical composition to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.
Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is important for anyone and for any season who wants to enhance immunity and resist disease. Therefore, you may want to consider taking Blissful Sleep if you have trouble falling asleep (a Vata disorder), or Deep Rest if you wake frequently, especially between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. with energy (a Pitta disorder).
“Your first line of defense is to choose a healthy lifestyle. Following general good-health guidelines is the single best step you can take toward keeping your immune system strong and healthy. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies.”
- Harvard Health Publications
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.
Your Happiness Is A Reflection Of Your Health.