It is Yoga Spring

It is Yoga Spring

Believe it or not...  It is the early stages of spring in Yoga.  Spring starts on March 20th!  Another Winter Storm on the way can make it hard to believe.  This can be a confusing season to our systems in the North East.   Be on the look out for our Spring Clean Series coming March 20th.  Here are 2 tips to ring in the season yoga style It is a time for change.   Around here the weather may not change that much yet. But our energy can begin to change when we get those first few warm days; we start to see the birds come out; the plants change; we feel the changes of daylight savings time (March 11th).  We need ways to support these changes so that we can feel our best.  1. Spring Eating Tips.  As the seasons change you can cross reference the Winter/ Vata Grocery List with the Spring Yoga/ Kapha Grocery List.  Here is a link to the list I compilled.

2. We will focus on a Kapha Balancing Sequence this season.  This will include a warming flowing sequence to keep energy flowing, heart-opening poses, and poses to clear the sinuses and mind.    Here are some tips from " How to Change Up Your Yoga Practice for the Season Ahead" DoYouYoga

Winter to Spring Groceries

As the season turn its time to change the foods we eat.  I follow the Ayurvedic (Yoga's Sister Science) 3- Season Diet of John Douillard.  His webite www.lifespa.com has grocery lists for each of the yoga seasons.  

For the Winer to Spring Season it is recommended to eat what is common on both the Winter and Spring List.  Here is a list of items which are considered good to eat in both seasons.

Vegetables

Artichokes
Beets
Carrots
Corn
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger
Hot Peppers
Onion
Parsely
Potatoes

Fruit

Apples

Blueberries

Papayas

Pears

Strawberries

Spices

Anise

Black Pepper

Basil

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Cumin

Fennel

Ginger

Saffron

Turmeric

Nuts and Seeds

Pine Nuts

Sunflower

Grains

Amaranth

Buckwheat

Oats

Quinoa

Rice, brown, long grain

Legumes

Mung Beans

Dairy

Ghee

Rice/ Soy Milk

Yogurt (in moderation)

Meat

Chicken

Duck (in moderation)

Eggs (in moderation)

Freshwater fish

Turkey

Condiments

Carob

Pickles

Sweetners

Honey - Raw 

Maple Syrup 

Molasses

Oils

Coconut

Flax

Tea

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Cloves 

Ginger 

Orange Peel

Other Drinks

Black Tea (in moderation) 

Coffee (in moderation)

Warm Water