By Anuradha Gupta | Posted: October 23, 2019
The cold winter months are upon us; if animals are hibernating, don’t you feel like resting, slowing down and staying warm too? We are in the Visarga or release period (between summer and winter solstice) which is cooling, and during this time, we tend to gain strength (and weight, too).
In the US, early winter is typically a Vata Season (dry, rough and cold season) right up to February. Late winter (mid-Feb up to the end of spring in May), is Kapha Season (cold, heavy and moist).
Depending upon where you stay in the USA, of course, these seasonal energies can vary. You could have the influence of both Vata and the occasional Kapha season in your Ritucharya, or Seasonal Regimen. For instance, you may have a cold, dry spell and occasional heavy, humid, cloudy days with rain and snow.
How do you know a dosha is out of balance?
If something feels unpleasant, it is out of balance! Good digestion is a sign of balanced Pitta; hyperacidity is a sign of Pitta when it’s out of balance. Similarly, creativity and a penchant for storytelling are signs of balanced Vata, but a loss of focus and talking too much are signs of Vata out of balance.
How do you bring a dosha back into balance?
Like increases like, and opposites balance each other. As Vata is dry, fall and early winter can increase and aggravate Vata. A person with a Vata constitution (or aggravation) in winter needs the opposite quality of moisture from warm drinks, stews, soups, warming foods, and spices. It’s also encouraged to wear warm clothes in warm, vivid colors!
Winter focus
Feeling hungry? Your digestive fire and metabolic fire, or Agni, increases in the winter, and you need nourishment as this will strengthen all your tissues. This is not a good time to diet. You can also focus on strengthening your body and mind with exercise, yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Keep warm, rejuvenate, and look after yourself. And above all, connect and be happy!
In terms of imbalances, you may feel allergies coming on, sinus infections, headaches, flues, aches and pains, dryness, sleep disturbances, and constipation.
Bringing Vata into balance
Vata is dry, cold, rough, subtle, and mobile. To keep grounded during Vata season (up to February or cold, dry days), it is recommended to continue and follow your fall regimen nicely, which you can find here. Enjoy this Vata balancing Tea - boil 1 spoon of fennel, 1 spoon of coriander, about 1/4th tsp of grated fresh ginger and a pinch of cardamom in 4-6 cups of warm water. Sip warm, 3-4 times a day.
Vata Balancing Herbs: Include ashwagandha, vidari, brahmi, haritaki and triphala in your health routine. For the best results, consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before you start taking any herbs. Depending upon your prescription, you may order the best quality and authentic herbs from Sri Sri Tattva.
Where Vata and Kapha overlap
In the regions and times where a Vata-Kapha overlap happens, focus on balancing Vata and be mindful of Kapha days. Keep in mind your own body constitution and any imbalances you may have.
Vata and Kapha are both cold doshas. Vata is light and dry and Kapha is heavy and moist. Vata is balanced by sweet, sour, and salty tastes and Kapha by bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes. What do they both like? Warmth. Stay warm, dress warm, eat warm foods, both in temperature and potency, and eat warming spices like ginger, garam masala, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin. When you feel heavy and sluggish, that’s the time to rev things up and focus on Kapha: change your routine up a bit and make sure you exercise. When Kapha predominates, make sure you avoid heavy, sweet, and unctuous foods. Herbs that balance Kapha are pippali, maricha, haritaki, guggulu, ginger, and punarnava.
Eat seasonal, local fruits and vegetables, cooked as soups and stews for Vata days, and lightly cooked with less oil for Kapha days. Aim to have all shad rasa or six tastes in your diet. Avoid cold drinks or food and for teas, focus on warming teas like ginger or cinnamon tea. Warm milk with turmeric and a pinch of black pepper and nutmeg makes an excellent drink a few hours before you go to sleep. Do abhyanga with warming oils like sesame for Vata and with lighter, invigorating oils like mustard or olive for Kapha.
Winter months can get lonely and isolating, so stay connected! Exercise enough and keep to a routine, except on snowy, rainy days where pushing yourself a bit more with exercise will help. In terms of yoga, warming sequences like Sun Salutations, Warrior, forward, and backward bends help; make them slow and meditative for Vata days and dynamic for Kapha days! Even breathwork can be slow and balancing for Vata, like more of Nadi Shodhan (alternate nostril breathing), and add more brisk breathwork like Kapal Bhati and Bhastrika for Kapha days. Essentially, follow a Vata routine, but be mindful of seasonal variations. Self-awareness and keeping track of how you’re feeling is the key to the Vata-Kapha overlap.
Herbal Support
Chyavanprash, Ginger, and Trikatu Powder (equal quantities of Dry Ginger, Black Pepper and Long Pepper) are great herbs during winter season. Trikatu or ½ tsp of ginger juice taken a half hour before meals with warm water aids digestion, immunity, and combats allergies and flu-like symptoms. You can add honey but ensure you don’t boil honey or don’t take it with hot water. Chyavanprash is a rasayana (a rejuvenating blend of 40 different herbs) that can be taken with a glass of warm milk in the morning (or warm water).
Do consult a qualified Ayurvedic professional if you plan to take any of these herbs.
Anuradha Gupta is an Engineer, MBA and Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. She has a corporate background and volunteers for Art of Living and other nonprofits. You can find her on Facebook or on LinkedIn.
