Transition with Care: Seasonal Junction Self-Care

Sandhi means junction, and Ritu means season. Ritu Sandhi is the period that joins two seasons. According to classic Ayurvedic texts, Ritu Sandhi takes place during the two-week period when the seasons are in transition. So as we welcome this transitional time in the Northern Hemisphere, even amidst the worldwide stressors we are witnessing, may we welcome this season’s transition with grace, gratitude, heightened awareness, and intent. It is by aligning ourselves with the rhythms of nature that we can nurture harmony and reinvigorate balance in our mind, body, and spirit.

Follow the simple self-care suggestions below to help release wintertime stagnation, create more ease in your mind and body, and refresh your energy for the brighter days ahead! 

Springtime Ritucharya  Suggestions

Nutrition

Prioritize a seasonal cleanse. Favor more pungent, bitter and astringent tastes. Enjoy food and drinks with warm, dry, and light qualities to counter the cool, moist, and heavy qualities of the Kapha (late winter/early spring) season. 

Herbal Allies

Include supportive culinary herbs like pippali, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and tulsi. Other ayurvedic herbs such as punarnava, bibhitaki, chitrak, shardunika, and guggulu can be supportive under the guidance of an experienced Ayurvedic counselor and or practitioner. 

Rest

Avoid sleeping during the day. Try going to bed during the Kapha time of night, ideally by 10 PM. It is recommended to rise before the Kapha time of day, thus by 6 AM.

Yoga Asana / Pranayama

Include warm-ups like sun salutation series. Integrate seasonal balancing asanas like lateral bends, twists, backbends, extensions, and inversions as these postures will help pacify and instill balance during the early spring season. Prioritize warming breathwork practices like bhastrika pranayama, kapalabhati pranayama, and or kumbhaka after the exhale to further stoke Agni (digestion). Energizing practices like breath of joy can also be integrated and enjoyed! It is best to practice during the Kapha time of day, between 6 AM and 10 AM. A shorter savasana is also encouraged, thus resting between 5-8 minutes after practice to counter the heavier qualities of the late winter/early spring season. 

I am truly honored to offer professional guidance, lifestyle support, customized seasonal cleanse & digestive reset packages, and tailored self-care practice plans that support and nourish you during every season! For more information, please visit my website and or reach out to me directly. Wellness is and should remain, simple and easy!