Ayurvedic Protocol For Days When You Feel Sluggish and Tired

Fighting Off Spring Kapha

There are days, especially in the Spring when you can barely wake up, feel sluggish and puffy, stomach looks bloated and expanded, and your mind is foggy. Heavy, slow, dull Kapha dosha is reigning the weather and our bodies until it gets warm and toasty.

Changes in the nature always lead to the changes in our bodies. Heavy, wet, and cold by its nature Kapha reigns our world from Feb to May (depending on the weather and your location). It influences everything in our daily existence from energy levels to sleep quality, from body weight to mood.

When balanced Kapha creates a sense of security, stability, and internal peace. It makes you feel as if you were under a warm soft blanket with a cup of cocoa even during the most challenging times. It improves your intuition and encourages compassion. But not everything is perfect about Kapha. Once you step off the thin edge of a balanced healthy Kapha, you end up in a depressed moody tired state. Life looses its bright colors, early morning doesn’t inspire you, and a chronic cold seems to follow. Physically, Kapha can show up as frequent colds, allergies, and weight gain. With increased kapha there is a tendency for toxins to gather and be held onto in our tissues.

On days like Kapha is overflowing all you want is to stay at home and feel sorry for yourself. But I know that you are not one of the folks who would want to waste a day on feeling down. You have important and fun things to get done so you need a quick remedy to shake off this grogginess.

I will tell you what to do on a day like this but before let me tell you know not to do for sure:

  • Don’t stay in bed all day (the earlier you get up, the better you will feel)
  • Don’t eat heavy, creamy, cold things (no avocado, dairy, or nuts on sluggish days)
  • Don’t spend your entire day at the tv or computer (that is, get outside!)
  • Don’t drink iced drinks

Instead, try these to shake off excess Kapha:

  • Keep it moving. Exercise is especially important during Kapha season when all you want is to stay on the couch and eat chips. Do yoga, jump on a trampoline, run, bike, jump, skip and play as much as you can and don’t let slow Kapha get a hold of you.
  • Stay dry and warm. Say yes to scarves, hats, and gloves in bright colors such as red, yellow, and orange. Besides keeping you warm, bright colors will prevent the onset of the gloomy depression on the days when the sun is not shining. If you get a chance go to a dry heat sauna; it feels amazing when it’s still chilly outside.
  • Keep it fresh and exciting. If you are feeling stuck in a rut, mentally slow, heavy and more tired than usual, now is the time to vary your daily routine, start something new, or go someplace exciting. Seek for adventure, new friends, fun experiences, and set new challenging goals for this Spring. This is the time to take your first Salsa lesson that you were thinking about for the last year, get a new hair style, and go out dancing with your old friends!
  • Use a quick lymphatic oil massage or dry brush your entire body to improve lymphatic drainage and circulation
  • Take hot/cold shower (alternate between hot and cold water T)
  • Eat light and warm foods. I prefer having lots of warm light soups, beans, and roasted veggies while avoiding heavy, cold, and creamy stuff. Sip hot water frequently throughout the day. It is the frequency rather than volume that counts. Try adding spices for more flavor.  Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves are all great!
  • For a light breakfast, eat a stewed apple with cloves, nutmeg, fresh ginger, mint, cardamon and grapefruit

“Wake Me Up” Stewed Apple with Spices and Mint

Ingredients:

  • stewedapple1 apple
  • 1/4 grapefruit or more if you like its slightly bitter flavor
  • 1 inch fresh ginger
  • 6 mint leaves
  • 3 cardamon cloves
  • cloves 2 pieces
  • nutmeg pinch
  • Boil water with sliced ginger.
  • When it is boiling add sliced apple and cut up grapefruit pieces and all the spices.
  • Cover and let it lightly boil for 5 min
  • Pour everything in a pretty bowl.
  • Sprinkle with chopped mint leaves.
  • Make sure to drink the warm spicy water! It’s the best part! Enjoy!

 

What is your favorite light Spring-inspired meal? Let me know and I’ll choose one recipe to make it more Ayurvedic:)

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