Winter Care

Heidi Sherwood
Ayurvedic Therapist, Spa Owner, and Natural Health Practitioner

As the long nights, short days, and west coast winter days set in, we are reminded that weather has a huge impact on our bodies and minds. While many people enjoy sweater weather and the cold, cloudy, rainy days, a lot of people struggle to find balance.

According to Ayurveda, we consist of the five elements, earth, air, water, fire, and space which form three doshas, Vatta (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (earth and water).  Each of the seasons has a predominance of one of the dosha’s. The cloudy, damp, cold qualities of winter.
correlate to that of Kapha dosha. It is at this time that we want to take care of this dosha so not to cause accumulation or aggravation over winter and early springtime.

Kapha dosha is earth and water energy and it responsible for lubrication of the joints, providing immunity, stability and structure to the body.  In balance, a Kapha-type person is calm, soft, grounded, nurturing, and forgiving with larger solid body-type and soft skin. The qualities are slow, oily, slimy, soft, sweet and damp. Kapha dosha is found predominately in the chest, often leading to congestion when out of balance.

Other signs of increased Kapha dosha are:

• Increased craving for sweets, chocolates or starchy foods
• Weight gain/edema
• Feelings of heaviness/achy joints
• Sinus congestion, colds, asthma, wheezing
• Depression
• Stubbornness/attachment/sadness
• Lethargy/melancholy/dullness
• Mental fogginess
• Weaker digestion (loss of overall appetite or heaviness in stomach)
• Congestion, poor circulation

Ways to Reduce Kapha in the Winter and Early Springtime

1. Avoid over-eating, dairy, heavy and sweet foods; enjoy bitter, pungent (spicy) and astringent foods.
2. Satisfy your appetite with hot soups, warm tea with cinnamon, clove or ginger and stimulating food.
3. Nourish your body with stimulating massage, body brushing (daily) and body scrubs.
4. Used invigorating essential oils in bath or for body exfoliations such as the citrus oils, bergamot or firs.
5. Keep active with vigorous exercise; it is the best thing to do on dark, rainy days.
6. Do yoga asanas in the morning such as sun salutation, boat, lion, and tree poses to open the chest and relieve congestion followed by right nostril breathing pranayama (surya bhedana) and meditation to maintain emotional confidence and balance.
7. Engage in conversation; try to avoid being withdrawn or apathetic
8. Always wear warm clothes and bright colours.
9. Keep your home well light to reduce depression
10. Visit with friends often as they boost energy and offer emotional support

Surya Bhedana Pranayama

1. Assume sukhasana or any other comfortable sitting position.
2. Shut your left nostril with your right ring and little finger.
3. Inhale through your right nostril to the count of 5, slowly and soundlessly.
4. Then shut your right nostril with your right thumb.
5. Now exhale very slowly and soundlessly through your left nostril to the count of 6, thumb shutting your right nostril.
6. Repeat

The purpose of the Right nostril breathing is to increase the Pranic energy, the physical energy, to revitalize the body. It increases the efficiency of digestive system, also boosts the nervous system, especially the sympathetic nervous system. People
with Vatta and Kapha prakruti (personal constitution) are usually advised this pranayama.

Precautions

• If you feel little bit of discomfort then you can reduce the ratio of breathing.
• Under no circumstance should the proportion of the breathing be forced.
• People who have undergone abdominal surgeries, heart surgeries, brain surgeries should consult the medical expert or consultant.
• Please do not rush to increase the proportions

Heidi Sherwood lives and works in Victoria, British Columbia and is the founder and owner of Sapphire Day Spa.
Visit her at: sapphiredayspa.com