Spring has sprung!

Just this morning I noticed new growth on all my plants, tiny sprouts popping out of the soil in the garden, and butterflies flitting about in the yard. Within myself, I've noticed the urge to tidy and purge, the motivation to tackle a long delayed project, and a bit of a stuffy nose.

Many people experience sinus congestion in the Spring. Most think it is due to pollen, but according to Ayurveda, it is a by-product of shedding kapha dosha, the primary energy of winter. Kapha is heavy, dense, damp, and cool. It lends itself to winter's call to hibernate and cocoon. In Spring (vasanta), we shed kapha in preparation for pitta, the firey heat of summer.

Observing this transition and meeting it with diet and lifestyle practices is a cornerstone of Ayurveda known as ritucharya (ritu = season, charya = practice, discipline, or teaching).

Vasanta ritucharya focuses on detoxifying and stimulating metabolism. This is a great time for the following practices:

• Vigorous exercise ~ get moving! Walk a little faster and a little further. Do a more challenging yoga practice. Finally get that gym membership. Clearing kapha requires movement and sweat.

• Garshana ~ dry brushing. This can be done with a set of gloves or a traditional soft bristled dry brush. Gently rub the skin from periphery to center in small circles. Move toward lymph collection sites in the hips, underneath the arms, and above the collarbones.

• Neti pot ~ rinse your sinuses! A warm salt water rinse hydrates and cleanses the sinuses, and encourages them to drain. If you've never done it before, let me know and I'll send you a tutorial.

• Cleanse ~ support detoxification and boost your metabolism with a three to ten day Spring cleanse. You don't have to do a severe water fast. In fact, Ayurveda does not recommend it. Rather, eliminate heavy, cold, sour foods in favor of light, warm, spicy foods, and bitter herbs.

This is a tough time to be a human on planet Earth. These small daily rituals connect us to nature and bolster us from the inside out . They are tiny acts of rebellion that just might give you the boost you need to get through these trying times.

Don't neglect and weaken yourself. Attend to your vitality. Strengthen your immunity, and your resolve.

If you feel better, you can handle it better.