(20 min CLASS) Ayurveda Tips for Winter w/ Vanashree Belgamwar

According to Ayurveda, Winter is a season divided in two parts Early & Late Winter, with predominance of different elements in each part. Without the implementation of intentional structure, this time of year can become challenging for your respiratory system, digestive system, and mental health.

Early Winter (November -December):

DOSHA: vata
ELEMENTS: air +ether
BODY: respiratory system, digestive system, & mind
EMOTIONS: fear, worry, anxiety

Late Winter (January-March):

DOSHA: kapha with strong undertones of vata
ELEMENTS: water + earth
BODY: respiratory system, digestive system, & mind
EMOTIONS: depression, seasonal affective disorder, sadness, grief, sense of heavy/groggy mind

When high amounts of the water and earth element is present in the body, it might result in heaviness, lethary, fatigue, grogginess, etc. This time of year especially effects areas of the body that are associated with respiration and joints. Pain in the body can get worse in cold.

Key words: wind, light, dryness, mobility, roughness, heaviness, grounding, slow, cloudy

Embodiment:

Early Winter:

During early winter, Vata can be challenging to balance in the body because it’s an element that is always moving. In order to balance the dry, rough nature of Vata, it can be helpful to consume foods and engage in activities of the opposite nature. But as it starts snowing, it is better to focus on nourishing, warming foods and activities.

Instead of overwhelming the body with intense amounts of exercise, focus on creating earth and a sense of joy by doing sun salutations and meditations focusing on the solar plexus.

Early winter asks for routine within eating, bowel movements, physical movements, and sleeping - doing so will do wonders to calm the chaotic nature of Vata.

Late Winter:

During late winter, keep your Prana (life force energy) up to avoid stagnation and heaviness in the mind/emotions from the earth/water element. Do something creative with vibrant colors - wearing bright colors like orange, red, and yellow will help with emotional healing and attracting the right energies.

Suggestions

FOODS

Nourishing, hearty, & warming

Kitchari - rice & mung bean porridge
quinoa
semolina
barley vegetable soup
stews
golden milk - turmeric, cinnamon, & ginger with oat or almond milk before bed
healthy but light fats - sunflower oil, olive oil, ghee
focus on seeds more than nuts
warming teas - CCF (cumin, coriander, and fennel)
start your day with fresh ginger + lemon + honey tea

LIFSTYLE

Increase your Prana (life force energy)!

Abhyanga (self massage with sesame oil), followed by a warm shower
Nasya oil in nostrils
Meditate - sun meditation, activate solar plexus
Sun salutations every day
Follow portion sizes - about a medium sized cereal bowl worth of food for every sitting
Avoid clouding your digestive system

MEET YOUR TEACHER

Vanashree Belgamwar is an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga and a spiritual teacher (art of living).She holds a BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and surgery) degree from ‘University of health sciences, India’.In addition to that, she is trained in ‘Nadi Pariksha’ (Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis) an amazing diagnostic tool that can tell you a lot about your well being. Vanashree hosts multiple workshops on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic cooking around Twin Cities.

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