Spring |
Sprung
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You might have finally left your cozy and wintry cave and noticed warmer temps and longer days. It's time to lighten up as winter closes and prepare for the eventual summer heat. Spring has sprung!
Kapha
The spring season is governed by Kapha (Kapha also governs winter); you can see its effect through the slow, heavy, cool and liquid qualities in your daily life. This can be experienced as weight gain, sluggishness, congestion, and increased allergies.
In the body, Kapha’s primary locations are the stomach and chest, so symptoms are often felt in these areas. The main principle of Kapha is cementing; heavy and congested. And, like cement, Kapha's main elements are Water and Earth. But, introducing Kapha in a more positive way can help with oleation, lubrication, and benefit most liquids in the body.
Let’s go over a few basics.
FOCUS
Lighten up
Energize
Enjoy the warmth
TASTES
It's always best to eat all six tastes in their meals: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. However, spring is a time to favor pungent, bitter and astringent tastes. Try to incorporate these tastes into your food through spices, herbs and teas. Consider using cinnamon, parsley, bitter greens and lentils in your cooking this season.
Sweet
Sour
Salty
Pungent
Bitter
Astringent
FOOD
Cooking Fresh
Cooking fresh, whole, local and organic foods is extremely important. Personally, I love to shop at the local greenmarket because the seasonal produce guides me towards the foods that my body is naturally needing, and craving right now. It’s exciting to move away from all the winter squash and roots. The new colors, smells and textures of spring inspires new dishes to create and satisfy the taste buds.
Add Spice
Spring is also a good time to cook with spices and herbs that can help ignite digestion. Eat light, cleansing, and cooked foods. For example, consider cooking kitchari with spring greens added in the final minutes of cooking to wilt. Try to eat in moderation and try not to snack. Allowing your body to digest food properly promotes healthy digestion. When possible, stay away from fatty, fried and oily foods. They will increase Kapha levels, and in turn, increase that sense of heaviness or congestion. Remember, like increases like.
Reduce Dairy
Decreasing dairy consumption, especially during Kapha hours (6-10 am/pm), can also have positive effects. Dairy can cause even more congestion in the body, which can lead to a build-up of toxins and clogged channels.
Avoid Cold/Heavy
Try to avoid cold or heavy foods as well. Spring is a time to lighten up and rejuvenate the body.
MOVEMENT:
Usually the body is naturally ready to stretch those limbs and get moving. With that said, Surya Namaskar is a great way to start your day. Like a hit of coffee, there’s a jolt of energy that begins to flow through the body. You find yourself breathing a little more clearly, a stretching of the limbs unlike what you’ve felt for a few months now and maybe even a few beads of sweat on the forehead. No this is not a restorative class. Start with 7 day and keep upping the anti each week. You can also add lion, locust and palm tree poses or some chest openers.
Surya Namaskar
MEDITATION:
Instead of hoping in the car/bus/subway/etc to run that next errand, maybe lace up those sneakers and take a brisk meditative walk. Or include this as a ritual 30mins after lunch or dinner. Breathing in some fresh air before you sit back down to your desk, or maybe it’s to redirect a food craving or wind down for the night.
BREATH:
A few great pranayamas for Kapha are Bhastrika and Kapala Bhati as they are heating and cleansing to the body. If new to pranayama find a video online or read below.
FOCUSED
FLOWS:
BHASTRIKA
(Bellows Breath)
HOW TO:
On an empty stomach, sit in a comfortable seated crossed leg position, making sure your spine feels tall and aligned. I like to have my eyes closed during this practice. Keeping the focus of my attention on my breath and inner body.
□ Anonym / Aurae
1
On an empty stomach, sit in a comfortable seated crossed leg position, making sure your spine feels tall and aligned. I like to have my eyes closed during this practice. Keeping the focus of my attention on my breath and inner body.
□ Anonym / Aurae
2
When you're ready, begin to breathe in and out of the nose, emphasizing the exhalation. Inhale to fill the lungs with fresh air and feel open through the chest.
□ Anonym / Aurae
3
Now, forcefully exhale the air out by actively compressing the lungs and pushing the air out through the nose, all while gently rounding the torso forward to expel as much air out as possible.
4
Repeat the breaths at a steady rapid pace.
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FOCUSED
FLOWS:
KAPALA BHATI
HOW TO:
On an empty stomach, sit in a comfortable seated crossed leg position, making sure your spine feels tall and aligned. I like to have my eyes closed during this practice. Keeping the focus of my attention on my breath and inner body.
□ Anonym / Aurae
1
On an empty stomach, sit in a comfortable seated crossed leg position, making sure your spine feels tall and aligned. I like to have my eyes closed during this practice. Keeping the focus of my attention on my breath and inner body.
□ Anonym / Aurae
2
When you're ready, begin to breathe in and out of the nose, emphasizing the exhalation. Inhale to fill the lungs with fresh air and feel open through the chest.
□ Anonym / Aurae
3
Now, forcefully exhale the air out by actively compressing the lungs and pushing the air out through the nose, all while gently rounding the torso forward to expel as much air out as possible.
4
Repeat the breaths at a steady rapid pace.
Ayurvedic Yoga Focused Flows
Light
Spices
Moderation
Fresh
Organic
Heavy
Cold
Leftovers
Dairy
Greasy
Like Increases Like
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Herstory
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My personal experiences have guided the direction of my practice. Some of which inspired, and others that scarred. But together they strengthen and shape the care I now pay forward as a Practitioner.
Chronology
Herstory
Client |
Knowledge,
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Bridget Rae Kaczmarek is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and founder of Aurae, a NYC-based wellness practice.
Like so many others, Rae spent years following an alluring career (hers: fashion and creative production). Along the way, however, she realized how unbalanced, unfocused and generally unwell she had become. Originally educated as a designer, she climbed from assistant to executive producer, before finally choosing her well-being over her job.
Because she spent so much time in hospitals as a child, Rae had always felt a connection to health and the healing process. At the age of four, she suffered congestive heart failure and a stroke. Despite a remaining life expectancy of only just months, she had undergone open heart surgery at Mayo Clinic. Nearly four decades later, she’s not taking her longevity for granted.
Rae has spent her years since studying and learning from those gracious enough to share. After growing her yoga practice in India under Tara Judelle, she studied Ayurveda under Dr. Vasant Lad at The Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, and Ayurvedic Nutrition and CulinaryTraining under Chef Divya Alter in New York.
Like so many more, Rae has found a home in NYC. This caring and creative community has motivated her to help others be all the more healthy and happy.
Rae has spent her years since studying and learning from those gracious enough to share. After growing her yoga practice in India under Tara Judelle, she studied Ayurveda under Dr. Vasant Lad at The Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, and Ayurvedic Nutrition and CulinaryTraining under Chef Divya Alter in New York.
Like so many more, Rae has found a home in NYC. This caring and creative community has motivated her to help others be all the more healthy and happy.
Chronology
Client |
Knowledge,
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Slow
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Guides,
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Healthy etiquette for home, behavior, nutrition and self;
guides for the daily duties of both night and day;
hints for self-gratitude and compliment;
ideas on managing nutrition, on the preservation of health, and on sustaining balance.