Ayurveda’s Seasonal Regimen for Spring: The Vasanta Ritucharya

Everything around us is constantly changing- the seasons, the weather, and how our body reacts to these seasonal cycles. According to the principles of Ayurveda, your body undergoes cyclical processes just like the seasons because it is said to comprise the same five elements of nature. What you experience in your body depends on its alignment with nature. For this reason, every season has a different effect on our bodies, and we must make small changes to our daily routines every time the season changes. This seasonal routine, lifestyle, and diet are called Ritucharya in Ayurveda. Let’s delve deeper into the Ritucharya of spring or the Vasanta Ritucharya!

All You Need to Know About Vasanta Ritucharya

What is Spring or Vasant Ritu?

Vasant Ritu, or Spring season, is a season of rejuvenation, new birth, and new beginnings as trees and plants bloom with flowers making the Earth beautiful and charming. In Vasant Ritu, though the weather is pleasant, our body and the doshas undergo significant changes. Since Kapha dosha becomes predominant in the Shishira Ritu (cold season), it gets liquified during Vasant Ritu. It further diminishes digestive fire and gives rise to many diseases. As Ayurveda suggests, every Ritu has its unique impact on the human body, and thus, one should tweak their diet and overall routine to remain in sync with the Ritu.

Vasant Ritu, or spring, is one of the most beautiful and pleasant seasons. Nature is at its colourful best after a cold and harsh winter. According to Ayurveda, Vasant Ritu is the ideal time for detoxification.

How Does Spring Affect Our Doshas?

Ayurveda divides the year into two kaals– Aadaan kaal and Viserga Kaal, based on the Sun’s positions. The year is also divided into six kinds of weather or seasons. The kaals affect our doshas in the following way:

• Vata: This dosha accumulates in the dry heat of summer and is aggravated during the rainy seasons to bring about indigestion, acidity, and gas.
• Pitta: This dosha accumulates in the rainy season due to acidic atmosphere and indigestion. Autumn aggravates it.
• Kapha: This dosha accumulates in the cold wintery season due to the wind, rain, and clouds. Spring aggravates it when the warm heat of the weather liquefies the Kapha.

We understand that as winter gives way to spring, we lose the Vata, and Kapha becomes the more predominant dosha. While spring brings a whiff of optimism and positivity, an imbalance of doshas can cause accumulation of Kapha in the body and make you feel stuck, gloomy, or confused. Also, the liquefied Kapha weakens the digestive system and lowers our immunity, increasing our risk for diseases in spring.

What Should We Eat In the Spring Season, according to Ayurveda?

The goal of eating healthy during the Vasant Ritu is to reduce Kapha dosha. One can do this by eating bitter (tikita), Kashaya (astringent), pungent (katu) rasas. You should also avoid sour (amala), salty (Lavan), and sweet (madhura) rasas as they increase Kapha dosha. Here are some foods that you can include in your Vasanta Ritucharya:

• Garlic
• Ginger
• Onion
• Neem leaves
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Onions
• Turmeric
• Cereals
• Old barley
• Wheat
• Rice
• Lentils and pulses
• Honey water
• Sonth water
• Buttermilk

Some foods that you must avoid during the spring season (Ayurveda) include:

• Foods that are high in calories and take longer to digest
• Deep-fried food

Vasanta Ritucharya Steps

Apart from dietary modifications, here are some Vasanta Ritucharya tips you can follow to stay healthy and fit during the spring season:

Some lifestyle modifications that you must make during the Vasant Ritu are:

• Exercise regularly to balance Kapha dosha and eliminate bodily toxins.
• Avoid daytime or afternoon sleep and wake up before 7 am
• A self-massage with oil helps boost immunity and strengthen your body
• It may be a great idea to apply an ubtan before bath time as it reduces the Kapha dosha and strengthens your body and immunity.
• Practice yoga every day as it balances the doshas in your body, improves blood circulation and reduces stress-causing hormones. You can try a range of effective yoga asanas (poses) to reduce the Kapha dosha.

Conclusion

Keeping your body in sync with the changing season is key to staying healthy. With the advent of spring, it is essential to follow the important tips mentioned in this article and stay healthy and fit this spring season. If you wish to balance your life and health with the power of Ayurveda, contact us at Ayuvi today! At Ayuvi, we have a dedicated team of Vaidyas, nutritionists, and yoga coaches who monitor your health and provide a personalised coaching experience for your health problem.