February Wellness Map

Focus

We are at the turning point! The days are getting longer and, slowwwwwwly but surely, warmer. Here in Colorado it’s a continual cycle of freezing overcast days with wet icy snow followed by sunny days melting said snow. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, and is far more enjoyable if you ride it with balance in your body.

We transition into late winter this month, marked by the wet heaviness of Kapha. We’ve spent the last few dry and windy months building up the body to get through the darkest time of year, so we could be feeling sluggish, especially on the colder days when fireside beckons far more than the gym. Conversely, some days we may be feeling anxious and pent up from being held captive by the cold.

As always in Ayurveda, how we approach our actions are individual. Tune into your body as well as the environment. Are you feeling anxious? Stick with the January map suggestions. Feeling more sluggish? Let’s lighten things up a bit (suggestions below). if you didn’t catch last month’s observation journal printout, grab it here. The key to working on any digestive issue is observation. So, start there.

One thing that will help everyone, however: slap on that sunscreen and head outside whenever weather allows. This will not only boost your spirits but also your Vitamin D (just taking a 25 minute stroll after lunch 3 days a week would be super).

Have a wonderful month everyone! If you have questions about anything at all, please email me.

Nourish

I’m not going to lie, February was always one of the toughest months before Ayurveda found me. As someone who has struggled most with a vata (dry, cold, anxious) imbalance, February felt so far from the warmth of spring and my anxiety was in high gear from fighting cold wind from the previous months. Unknowingly, I was exacerbating the problem by constantly nervous snacking on dry foods like crackers and popcorn. What I learned from Ayurveda was application of opposites, and it changed my winters. Feeling cold and anxious? Eat something warm and grounding, but not necessarily heavy. The three meals below are some of my favorites illustrating these principles. And they all feature a kapha balancing spice blend that is to die for!

If you aren’t familiar with kitchari, please give it a go. It’s so fun to make it for the first time and discover how nourishing it feels. Split mung may be hard to come by in a western grocery store. I encourage you to search for an Indian or South Asian market in your town. The local Indian market here has a wealth of amazing products, some of which I’ll be mentioning often in my recipes, and local-owned businesses are always grateful for the support. In addition, experience has taught me that absolutely nothing compares to aged Basmati rice from India. I can never go back to anything else again.

Practice - Neti and Nasya

While it may seem like the flora outside is still sleeping, the longer days are spurring an awakening underground. It’s always exciting to see the first crocus pop their little heads up in just a month or so. But what isn’t so exciting are the allergies that often accompany nature’s rebirth. Now is the perfect time to begin or reinvigorate your neti pot and nasya oil practices. Admittedly, if I am behind by 5 minutes in the morning, guess what gets omitted from my morning practice/dinacharya? Yes, it’s neti. However, this time of year, I do prioritize it. In my experience, being consistent with neti even just for one month prior to pollen season makes a huge difference. Here is a great video from Banyan Botanicals on how to use a neti pot. At minimum, use a nasya oil before you go to bed at night to keep your nasal passages lubricated, which also helps avoid mucous build up. Here is my favorite.

Breathe in, Breathe out - Pranayama

Each breath, each moment is an opportunity. If you are not feeling your best, intentional breathing is the most accessible way to begin your healing journey.

“Pranayama is probably the most important healing tool of Yoga practice. It is Yoga’s greatest healing gift. After all, what can be better for healing than increasing Prana, the primary force of life, vitality and healing? And Pranayama is the best and most direct means to do this.” ~ Dr. David Frawley

If you are reading this, you are breathing, even though it’s the thing we most likely think the least about. It is the one thing we do involuntarily every day, and it keeps us alive. It is the movement of energy, of digestion, of thought.

In the eight limbs of yoga, asana is the third, a tool to calm the body in order to sit for meditation. Pranayama, the fourth, is used in concert with asana as well as separately. It is key to clearing the mind, balancing the doshas, calming the nervous system and preparing the mind body for meditation.

Through pranayama, or focused breath, you can heat the body or cool it, depending on which doshic imbalance you are experiencing. By combining last month’s brief asana practice with this month’s balancing pranayama called Nadi Shodhana, followed by a 10 minute meditation, you will be incorporating three incredibly powerful practices into your daily routine that will do wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Here is a video by my wonderful friend and teacher, Angie Katz, demonstrating Nadi Shodhana, a practice I do daily to promote balance in my mind, body and spirit.

Important note: The information provided is general guidance in accordance with Ayurvedic seasonal living. Every human is different; yoga and Ayurveda treat the individual and work best when tailored to your unique constitution. Contact me to learn more.