Smooth transition into the Winter season...

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite thing ever is to cuddle up in a nice soft chair with a book and some tea and cookies. Bonus if it’s raining outside. Granted, cold weather and rain are normally things that are abhorred by Kaphas, but you’re (hopefully) just watching the rain from the comfort of your own plush chair.

Fact is, Kaphas love comfort. There’s something comforting about food, about good books, and finally, about the winter months. Every year, on the very first cold day (“cold” being relative in California), I am struck with this Proustian feeling of what I can only describe as christmasy-thanksgivingness. If you don’t suffer from SAD (Seasonal affect disorder), then you know what I mean.

Spring and autumn are nice because you don’t have to worry about the weather as much, but winter is truly indulgent. It’s also an excuse to take extra care of yourself which, in ayurveda, is throuroughly recommended. Warm baths, oil massage with a vata-pacifying oil such as Sahacharadi thailam, aromatherapy, moongazing, sauna, meditation. In other words, Pamper away!

If you know a little bit about Ayurveda, you are most likely aware that seasons are an important part of the Ayurvedic lifestyle. You must gently adapt with the changes going on outside to remain balanced on the inside. According to Ayurveda, Fall and Winter are the strength-building seasons. When we think of winter weather, we often also think of catching a cold, but it isn’t so. You may catch a cold because of the seasonal shift, but in the winter season, the body’s immunity can be at its best.

According to the Ayurveda Encyclopedia, it is during the winter months that the moon is the most powerful. The moon’s cooling rays produce “soma” or nectar which nourishes people’s spiritual energies, as well as animals and nature.

There are two transitional periods into winter. The first is transitioning into fall, which is a difficult time for all doshas (mind and body). Thus, doshas should be monitored carefully during this time. If you want to get technical, the problem is that the seasons prompts changes in the northern solstice (which is depleting) and in the southern solstice (which is strengthening). This dichotomy can be contradicting and confusing to the body. In autumn, pitta dosha can be aggravated with the rain and the sudden warmth from the sun. During this time, it is best to avoid heavy meals, sour foods, and oily and fatty foods. However, when it is cold and rainy it aggravates vata and thus it is best to opt for sour, salty and fatty foods, as well as oil massages. Confusing? Yes. It’s a juggling act. Because digestive fire, or “agni”, is weakened during the dry weather of the summer, it is further abated by the rainy season. In fact, cold, rainy, snowy weather aggravates all three doshas.

Once the full transition into winter has started, it is Vata season. Here, we are to avoid anything vata-increasing, such as cold weather (yeah, sure, easy to avoid in…winter! Just dress warmly), cold drinks, light foods. Opt for wheat, rice, soups, and oils. For example, you can get natural oils, vitamins and warmth from nuts such as cashews and almonds. You can invigorate and heat your body with spices, such as pepper, ginger, cumin and coriander. And you can sustain your body with lentils, dhal, vegetable porridges, rice and homemade bread. It’s always best to prepare your food as you eat, in order to get the full pranic and sattwic benefits. And finally, eat whatever vegetables naturally grow in the winter time. This is a great season for onions, carrots, potatoes, leeks, squash, sweet potato, broccoli, etc. If thanksgiving has taught us anything, it is eating winter-appropriate foods!

In winter, the digestive fire is at its strongest and thus heavier foods are easily digested. Appetite also increases during this time, prompting people to turn to junk foods and thus decreasing immunity. Optimally, you will eat a lot of healthy foods which will be easily digested, adding nourishment to the body. During this time, it is best to ingest products that improve longevity, such as warm milk for immunity, hot water to flush out toxins, raw honey to build strength, rice, and oils. Sour and salty tastes should be favored. You can also visit steam rooms, saunas or get oil massages to improve circulation. As the winter months progress, follow these suggestions more intensely.

Make the best of winter- it’s nature’s nurturing season!