Our bodies are a part of nature and, therefore, the seasons have a strong impact on our health and wellbeing. Living seasonally is fundamental to maintaining health, preventing disease and living life fully. Ritucharya is the Ayurvedic term for living in accordance with the seasons. From Sanskrit, ‘ritu’ translates to ‘season’ and ‘charya’ translates to ‘discipline’ or ‘regimen’.
There is a science and an art to living in accordance with seasonal rhythms. This includes nutritional and lifestyle adjustments as well as appropriate times for cleansing and detoxing our bodies, minds and spirits. Living seasonally improves digestion, supports a healthy immune system, supports healthy weight, promotes healthy skin and is preventative medicine.
In this article, we outline the basics of Ritucharya, including the dominant and balancing qualities, symptoms of imbalance, and general nutrition and lifestyle guidance to help you live in rhythm with the seasons and experience greater wellbeing in mind, body and spirit.
Seasonal Rhythms
Seasons are experienced differently around the world but the principles of Ritucharya can be applied anywhere. In places where there are fewer environmental seasonal shifts, even slight seasonal weather changes – such as rainier or drier seasons – can have a significant impact on the body, mind and spirit.
If you live somewhere with four distinct seasons, winter and summer are the dominant seasons with more extreme conditions. Winter is the cold season and can be building to the body (many will gain extra weight in Winter). Summer is the heating season and can be depleting to the body (many will lose more weight in Summer).
Spring and Autumn are transitional seasons and are excellent times for cleansing. Accumulated qualities from the dominant seasons that oftentimes lead to imbalance – and, overtime, disease – can be expelled before the next seasonal shift. Cleansing should always be done with a trained Ayurvedic practitioner to ensure full expulsion of toxins and to avoid new imbalances.
Winter Conditions
Winter season is marked by the earth tilting away from the sun, making the environment colder and darker. Dryness can often occur where freezing temperatures bind moisture in the air. Artificial heaters also have a drying effect. The fires of the body concentrate in the digestive region so we can break down heavier meals.
Dominant Qualities
Cold, dry, erratic and hard
Balancing Qualities
Warm, moist, grounding and soft
Symptoms of Imbalance
-Constipation
-Dry, cracking skin and joints
-Cold hands and feet
-Weight gain
-Lethargy, sadness
Winter Nutrition
-Favor sweet, sour and salty tastes
-Nourishing foods such as oats, root vegetables and dates
-Moderate amount of warming foods such as ferments and spices
-Moisturizing foods such as dairy, almonds and ghee
Winter Lifestyle
-Earlier bedtime in accordance with the earlier sunsets
-Cover your ears when you are outside to prevent air imbalances from entering the body through exposed space
-Apply Nasya oil to the nasal cavities
-Keep the body warm inside and out
-Increase exercise levels as the body is stronger and slower
-Practice self oil body massage called Abhyanga
Spring Conditions
Spring is marked by increasing temperatures and moisture levels. The cold, hard and dry qualities that accumulated in the winter start to flow. The fires of the body start to recirculate and digestion is weaker. Spring is a time of seasonal transition, therefore it is a time to cleanse. The cleansing diet and lifestyle regimen clears the lungs, throat, sinuses and stomach where earth and water tend to accumulate.
Dominant Qualities
Cold, heavy, oily, static, dull and slow
Balancing Qualities
Warm, light, dry, mobile, sharp and penetrating
Signs of Imbalance
-Loss of appetite
-Sinus or head congestion
-Seasonal Spring allergies
-Lethargy
Spring Nutrition
-Favor pungent, bitter and astringent tastes
-Increase warming foods such as ferments, spices and citrus
-Increase foods that lighten the body such as legumes and grains
-Avoid dairy, potatoes, fried foods and sweets
-Warm herbal teas to balance digestive fire such as tulsi, turmeric, ginger, cumin
Spring Lifestyle
-Saltwater gargle and nasal Neti rinse in the morning.
-Heart opening yoga poses if they are appropriate for you and your body such as cobra pose, upward dog, camel pose, bridge pose, fish pose, and dancer’s pose
-Practice dry brushing to move lymph and shed dead skin cells
-Only eat when hungry as appetite is decreased
-More vigorous exercise and breath-work (pranayama)
-Sitting in saunas can help clear the channels of the body
Summer Conditions
Summer is a heating season that is more depleting to the body. Depending on where you live, it may be dry or humid. In general, to foster balance in the summer we want to promote moisture and cool the body.
Dominant Qualities
Hot, sharp, acidic and oily
Balancing Qualities
Cool, relaxing and slow
Signs of Imbalance
-Burning indigestion
-Skin rashes, inflammation or acne
-Irritability or anger outbursts
Summer Nutrition
-Favor sweet, bitter and astringent foods
-Avoid ferments, spicy foods, acidic fruits and vegetables
-Enjoy cooling vegetables such as cucumber, summer squash and avocados
-Enjoy legumes, rice, coconut and sweet fruits
-Cooling herbal waters such as fennel, coriander, mint, cardamom and lavender
Summer Lifestyle
–Nasya oil for internal hydration to combat the drying effects of the outside heat and air conditioners
-Take cool shower rinses
-Eat your largest meal of the day early in the day
-Coconut oil can be used for self oil massage
-Exercise early in the morning and avoid intense exercises that deplete the body. Swimming, walking in the shade, gentle yoga, leisure bike rides and tai chi are all wonderful options.
-Yogic twists help to wring out the fire organs of the body (eg. liver, gallbladder, spleen), removing excess heat.
Fall Conditions
Temperatures begin to decrease and the amount of wind increases. Fall is also a seasonal transition where the accumulated heat from the summer begins to alleviate so the body can prepare for winter. In fall, we want to promote healthy alleviation of heat. Routines are important to ground and combat the effects of the increasing winds.
Dominant Qualities
Cool, mobile, dry and erratic
Balancing Qualities
Warmth, grounding, moisture and structure
Signs of Imbalance
-Gas, bloating
-Constipation
-Dry and cracked skin
-Increased worry, anxiety, overwhelm
Fall Nutrition
-Favor sweet, sour and salty tastes
-Avoid raw, light and dry foods such as cold salads, hard crackers and anything that isn’t well-cooked, well-oiled or moderately-spiced
-Eat smaller portions to allow for excess heat to expel from the digestive region
–Enjoy clearing foods that are easy to digest such as vegetable soups and stews, rice and mung beans
Fall Lifestyle
-Ear covering should be reintroduced
-Self oil body massage with an appropriate oil for nourishing, softening and grounding.
-Exercise should slightly increase from summer to foster proper flow of energy and ground. Brisk walks, swimming, and moderate yoga can be practiced.
-Yogic forward folds help to alleviate excess wind or air in the body.
Ritucharya, living in accordance to the seasons involves making simple yet profound changes to maintain health, prevent disease and live life fully. The Ritucharya that is right for you is as unique as you are. Working with an Ayurvedic practitioner will help you to embody the seasonal rhythms that are right for your mind, body and spirit.
Article authored by Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents/caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause. Contact Path Wellbeing today to set up your appointment with Chloe Chaput, CAS.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
