Kapha Season: When to Root Down brings the opportunity to restore balance, build grounding routines, and nurture your mind, body, and spirit. This spring, I’ve learned how slowing down and practicing self-care during Kapha season supports stability and wellness
This year has already started on an amazing note. I’ve learned so much about myself and developed the maturity to slow down and process before making major shifts. Vata season was particularly challenging for me. I experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which makes seasonal changes more pronounced. I’ve found that the best way to manage the anxiety and low energy during Vata and Kapha seasons is through a ritual of self-care.
Ayurveda and the Doshas
I’ve always felt drawn to Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, deeply rooted in ancient Indian tradition. Ayurveda identifies three doshas, or constitutions: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha represents a combination of elements:
-
Vata: air and ether
-
Pitta: fire and water
-
Kapha: earth and water
The system balances these elements so that opposing qualities cancel each other while similar qualities support harmony. For instance, Vata combines air and ether, two contrasting elements, while Pitta and Kapha also balance opposing forces. Ayurveda is ultimately about maintaining equilibrium through awareness and intentional action.
Understanding Kapha Season
Kapha season occurs in spring and might initially sound lovely — sunshine and warmer temperatures provide a welcome shift from the cold, windy days of Vata. However, Kapha season can feel damp, cool, and sluggish. As a classic Pitta, I find these days paralyzing.
If you feel this way too, don’t worry. Ayurveda accounts for each dosha’s unique needs and offers tools to maintain balance during seasonal shifts.
Take Time for Self-Care
Self-care is essential for both physical and spiritual well-being. A proactive self-care routine fosters a lasting connection with your whole being — physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. Here are some ways to nurture every aspect of yourself:
Establish a Yoga Practice
Yoga goes beyond the physical practice of asana. Asana is only one component of Patanjali’s Eight Limbed Path of Yoga. Many practitioners come to yoga through movement, but meditation and seated practice are equally valuable.
-
Aim for 2–3 sessions per week in a community setting.
-
Establish a 10–15 minute home practice including seated meditation.
-
Challenge yourself to learn one new historical fact about yoga each month.
-
Journal your experiences across the four energetic bodies. (Example attached)
Start small and sustainable, then gradually build a practice that supports your growth.
Establish a Writing Practice
Writing can be incredibly therapeutic. Many journaling techniques help calm the mind and center the body. Consider your personality type and consult a therapist if you’re working with one. If you’re exploring solo, try coloring mandalas. This practice, like writing, releases energy and nurtures a positive mental state.
Tea Time
Research links tea consumption to health and vitality. Take a mindful break with your favorite tea, observing feelings as they arise. Invite sensations to come and go, releasing tension with awareness. This simple practice encourages presence and emotional balance.
Connection Through Abhyanga
Abhyanga, or Ayurvedic self-massage, can be transformative. Warm oil is applied based on your primary dosha, massaged from head to toe, then left to absorb for 20–30 minutes. Follow with a hot salt bath or warm shower. Abhyanga nurtures the skin, calms the mind, and supports overall balance. (Check the oil link here)
Managing Imbalance in Kapha Season
Seasonal shifts can make us feel unbalanced. Remember: you already have the tools to support yourself. Explore what makes you feel grounded, and return consistently to practices that bring peace. Persistence and mindfulness will help you stay calm through every season — winter, spring, summer, and fall.