Feeling Slow, Tired and Uninspired - Tips for Balancing Kapha

The last two blogs have focused on the Ayurveda doshas or energetic forces in the body called Vata (air/ether) and Pitta(fire/water) and tips to rebalance our current state in order to reset the balance of doshas to what they were at birth (Constitution). This week the focus will be on Kapha (earth/water) and tips to rebalance this expression in the body, mind and emotions. 

Since we all have varying degrees of each of these doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha -  there are times where we will find ourselves out of balance in one, two or all three of the doshas.  The clues for an imbalance in Kapha is lethargy, heaviness, slowness and lack of motivation.

Last week I provided the link below to learn your constitution and current state according to Ayurveda.  In case you haven't checked it out yet, here it is again.

Dr Claudia Welch and Banyan Botanicals have developed this fun and easy online tool for us to determine quite accurately our constitution and current imbalances.  Of course being brutally honest in taking the quiz is important. 
Ayurvedic Profile™ quiz.  Take the quiz and Banyan sends personalized recommendations!

To return to balance for Kapha, we need to counter kapha’s heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, and sticky qualities.  Like increases like and opposite helps to balance.  Kapha is balanced with foods, herbs, and experiences that are light, sharp, hot, dry, rough, and clarifying.  A simple guide for when kapha is aggravated - keep warm and dry,  avoid daytime napping, and increase your activities.  Though you may feel like sleeping and being a couch potato, allowing your body to do so will not energize you but will take you deeper into imbalance and you'll feel more sluggish, tired and uninspired with life.

​TIPS TO PACIFY AND BALANCE KAPHA:

• Focus on eating freshly cooked, whole foods that are light, dry, warming and well spiced.  Enjoying the foods served warm or hot
• Minimize the presence of oil and fat in your diet - sunflower and olive oils are the best choices to use
• Reduce processed foods and sugars.
• Favor warm and hot beverages and be careful not to overhydrate. Hot water and herbal teas like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, or clove can help to stimulate the digestive fires and relieve Kapha
• Eat three meals each day (be consistent about the times each day) and little to no snacking - especially not sweets or salty snacks
• Focus on making lunch the main meal and eating smaller quantities of food at breakfast and dinner.  All meals should be lighter foods with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables
• Limit the intake of raw fresh vegetables and fruits, as this can be cooling rather than warming - freshly cooked vegetables, with generous spicing (not too much salt) and small quantities of uncooked vegetables is ok
• Embrace a wide variety of spices 
• Chewing a slice of fresh ginger (about the size of a nickel) with a pinch of sea salt, a few drops of lime juice, and about ¼ teaspoon honey 1/2 hour before meals can help to increase the effectiveness of digestion.  Also, Trikatu, an herb that comes in capsule or powder form, can help to rev up the digestion if taken before the first bite of food at each meal.
• Minimal to no alcohol is advised and this is the one Constitution type, if predominantly Kapha, that can benefit from an occasional cup of strong chai or even a small coffee for its stimulating affect.
• Once in awhile, popcorn, rice cakes and small glass of white or red dry wine can help to balance the oily and cool nature of Kapha - limit the quantities

Lifestyle

• Focus on establishing a morning routine which invigorates - dry brushing the skin to get circulation moving and Abhyanga with mustard seed oil are two suggestions
•  Kapha-pacifying means - get moving!
  • Exercise that is enjoyable, vigorous, and stimulating — activities like walking, hiking, running, cycling - all the better in nature for added inspiration
  • Bring on your dance moves, as dancing is a great activity for revving up our motivation and enjoyment of life
  • Practice invigorating yoga postures - Sun Salutations are a great kick start to the day
• Practice yogic breathing - a prior blog explains how the breath balances us and describes how to do some yogic breathing exercises
• Practice a few rounds of anuloma viloma (alternate nostril breathing) as a good way to balance the two hemispheres of the brain and calm the nervous system.

Our lives change quite regularly, so it’s a good idea to take the Imbalances test every month or so.  There are also other good articles on Kapha on the Banyan website if you would like to learn more.

Namaste,
Loving Life and Living Love,
Mary

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