Mind, Body, and Soul Practices for Spring
In Ayurveda, Spring is seen as the season of rebirth and new beginnings. If your immediate thought was “WTF is Ayurveda?”, I don’t blame you. Essentially it’s a holistic, integrative approach to healing the entire self, aka mind, body, and soul, by connecting us with nature. As the seasons change so do we, which is why Ayurveda helps us come into alignment by flowing with the seasons. The word translates to “the science of life” and is the oldest medical system in the world. It’s also the sister science of yoga, so it makes sense why it’s something that I’ve been super interested in and have followed for years. Now that I’m writing this, I’m realizing that I need to do an entire post about Ayurveda, because it is truly so beneficial to have this knowledge in your back pocket. And, odds are that you’re already doing a lot of its teachings without even realizing (think: pretty much every mainstream health trend).
But, back to the point of this post. Just like in nature, spring is the time when we come out of winter hibernation and are able to grow. It’s characterized by warmth, lightness, and is usually a bit slower than summer - so it’s a great season for transition. It’s also the best time for cleansing, and no I don’t mean spending the entire months drinking green juice all day. Think about it like spring cleaning, but for the mind, body, and soul.
So, here are some general practices for spring that are helpful for this physical, mental, and energetic cleanup.
for the mind:
Declutter your mental space. Again, think spring cleaning - but this time in your brain.
Process and release negative feelings and emotions. Super uncomfortable to do, but necessary. Allow yourself to let that sh*t go.
Relax. Remember, spring is associated with lightness, so allow your mind to feel the same. Watch mindless television, take a bath, go to bed early - anything goes.
Spend time in the fresh air. We all know that going outside and getting some fresh air works wonders (thank you COVID), so do it as often as you need. Whenever you feel stressed, walk right outside and breathe.
for the body:
Get back into daily rhythms. If you fell out of some of your daily routines and rituals in the winter, now is the time to pick them back up. Some of these might include getting enough sleep and sunlight, sticking to your morning and night routines, daily movement and hydration, etc.
Eat seasonal. In the winter, it’s important to incorporate heartier and warming cooked foods into our diets. Spring is the season where we start to transition into more raw and cleansing foods. During these months, try to consume more fibrous and easy-to-digest foods and drinks. Think salads, smoothies, fresh fruit, iced drinks, etc.
Rise with the sun. This relates to the first point of getting back into daily rhythms. The winter is seen as a period of hibernation, so sleeping in a bit is usually the norm (not to mention it’s dark AF outside). As the sun begins to rise earlier, it’s a great opportunity for us to do the same. This also goes back to the main principle of Ayurveda by living with the flow of nature.
Sweat. Again, think spring cleaning, but flushing out any built up tension that we all carry in our physical bodies. This does not mean do the hardest, high intensity workout daily, but instead anything that you can do to break a sweat. This includes running or walking outdoors, hot yoga, the sauna, a hot bath, or if you’re actually a HIIT lover, now is your time. All that matters is that it’s something you enjoy doing, or you’ll end up being even worse off.
FOR THE SOUL:
Bring in more flow. Since spring is associated with lightness, it’s the season to really allow more flow and spontaneity. Since it’s also characterized as a time of new beginnings, it’s important to remain open and maybe even try something new.
Release. I think this is the case for every new season or time of transition, but allow yourself to release any stuck energy and negativity. Now is the time to start over, with a nice and fresh clean slate. Once again, let that sh*t go.
Deep breathing. If you’re into breathwork and breathing techniques, spring is the perfect time for deep breathing, since it’s the most cleansing breath. Even if you’re not into this stuff, you literally have no choice but to breathe - so why not try making some of those breaths a little bit bigger? Try it, and then tell me this stuff is BS.
Space. Once you’re able to release the negativity that you might still be carrying, create space for new opportunities and ways to receive. Out with the old and in with the new.
And for all of my visual folks out there, save this for your reference:
