The ultimate reset! Our 7-Night/8-Day deep cleanse rejuvenates the body, mind, and soul.
There’s something undeniably powerful about the shift in seasons. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned spiritual master, says ‘the microcosm in the creation is very much related to the macrocosm. What is within you is what lies outside’ The spring equinox isn’t just an astronomical event, it’s nature’s way of reminding us to press the reset button. Equal parts light and dark, this moment in time is a symbol of balance, both outside and within us.
For centuries, the classic wellness systems of the world like Ayurveda and Yoga have talked about this time of the year as being ideal for clearing out the old, detoxifying the body-mind complex, and stepping into a new rhythm. It’s that perfect moment when we can shake off winter’s sluggishness and realign with the energy of spring.
So, how does this dramatic shift in seasons impact the body and mind? And more importantly, how can we make friends with these changes instead of fighting with their natural influences this time of the year? Let’s dive in.
Twice a year, the earth arrives at a moment of perfect balance that we know is the equinox. Around March 20th, the vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (or autumn if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere).
On an equinox, day and night are almost equal, representing the harmony between opposing forces-light and dark, movement and stillness, expansion and contraction. It’s the coming together of the opposites. No wonder so many ancient cultures saw it as a time of renewal and new beginnings.
Across different civilizations, the equinox has been the time of rituals or renewal and rebirth. In Mexico, the Mayan pyramid of Chichen Itza was built in alignment with the equinox such that, as the sun would set, shadows would create the illusion of a serpentine movement down the temple’s staircase symbolizing transformation. Japanese traditions like Higan encourage spiritual reflection and visits to ancestors’ graves. In India, Holi, the festival of colors, often falls close to the equinox. Druids and Pagans celebrate Ostara, honoring the return of fertility and new life with symbols of eggs and hares.
For us today, the equinox serves as a natural checkpoint, a chance to overhaul and realign our own rhythms before entering a new phase of the year. In fact, in many traditions, this time of the year marks a new year and a new beginning.
In Ayurveda, spring is when the Kapha qualities dominate- the earthiness and sluggishness of things as they were. Winter’s cold and dryness (Vata) have accumulated in the system and now Kapha begins to rise.
But here’s the catch- if Kapha builds up too much, we feel its impact physically and mentally.
Signs of Kapha Imbalance Around the Equinox:
Ayurveda sees this as a natural time to go in for a cleanse. Just as nature is shedding the old (melting snow, budding leaves, fresh growth), we need to do the same within.
Seasonal transitions are an invitation to see where we’ve drifted off course. If we’ve been overindulging in heavy, rich foods; have been too sedentary, stuck indoors all winter; mentally drained, or pushing too hard without rest, the equinox is a nudge to course-correct.
Yoga helps you go within, become one with your higher self, through the body and mind. And the right asana practice can shake off stagnation while keeping you grounded, energizing you simultaneously and helping you evolve.
The key is balancing stimulation with stability. A mix of flowing, detoxifying movements and steady, grounding poses is ideal right now.
This energizing yet stabilizing sequence will help clear out the heaviness of winter and bring in fresh energy for spring.
The right asana practice, combined with breathwork and meditation greatly helps bring a seasonal alignment.
1. Sun Salutations for 5 Rounds
Get energized with this popular warming sequence of asanas. It improves your circulation and removes mental fog.
2. Warrior II – Hold for 5 breaths each side
This one strengthens legs, improves focus, and builds inner stability.
3. Twisting Chair Pose – Hold for 5 breaths
This asana detoxifies the digestive system and stimulates metabolism.
4. Cobra Pose – Hold for 5 breaths
This helps open the heart, clear stagnation, and enhance digestion.
5. Tree Pose – Hold for 5-8 breaths each side
For better balance, focus, and connection to the earth’s energy, this asana is a must do.
6. Seated Forward Fold – Hold for 5 breaths
This is a deeply calming pose for the nervous system. It also powers up the detoxification in your body.
7. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) – 3-5 minutes
Adding breathing exercises to the mix, alternate nostril breathing brings harmony in the energy channels and balances both hemispheres of the brain, so your logic and creativity both find a sweet balance in living.
8. Meditation for Balance – 10-20 minutes
Yoga is not complete without a few minutes of meditation and taking in all the rest. It brings mental clarity and deepens your experience of peace after a Yoga session.
As per Ayurveda, at the end of each season, we accumulate that season’s dosha properties. If we don’t do seasonal cleanse, excess Vata qualities like dryness and cold from winter lingers into spring, blocking Kapha’s natural rise. Kapha’s heaviness shows up as mucus, congestion that builds up in spring, leading to sluggish digestion in summer. Pitta’s heat (inflammation) accumulates in summer, creating irritation and imbalance in fall.
Skipping seasonal detoxes isn’t just going to affect your digestion but it will also affect your mental clarity, emotional balance, and long-term health.
During the spring equinox, as we transition from a Vata dominant season into a kapha season, the buildup of vata can lead to problems of anxiety, worry, and sleep concerns. The heaviness of Kapha is to balance out this restlessness and urge to mindlessly act. Without a proper seasonal cleanse, if excess vata is not cleared out, vata imbalances can aggravate and morph into more severe or chronic issues that’d require more time to heal, aside from having to deal with the discomfort and pain.
Now modern science is catching up with Ayurveda. Scientists today attest to what Ayurveda has been saying for centuries which is that seasonal eating isn’t just a lifestyle preference but a necessity for healthy living.
Research has emerged that shows that the microbes present in the soil transform too, along with the seasons, and those microbes end up in the food we eat. In many tribes, gut bacteria shift with the seasons, adapting their digestibility to available foods.
But in the modern world, eating out of season over prolonged period of time has led to the extinction of beneficial gut bacteria, as per research. Processed, non-seasonal diets disrupt the natural ebb and flow of our microbiome, one of the main reasons gut health issues are so common today.
Ayurveda always emphasized eating seasonally for a reason-it’s how our bodies are designed to thrive.
1. Eat a Kapha-balancing diet
Spring is the time to lighten up. Favor foods that are warm, dry, and pungent to counteract Kapha’s heaviness.
A Kapha-balancing diet for spring should include bitter greens like dandelion, kale, mustard greens, asparagus, radish, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts to counteract heaviness. Light grains such as barley, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat are preferred over wheat and rice, which can be heavier on digestion. For protein, legumes like lentils, mung beans, and chickpeas are excellent choices, while dairy-heavy dishes should be minimized. Warming spices such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper, mustard seeds, and cinnamon help boost digestion and metabolism. When it comes to fruit, opt for apples, pears, pomegranates, and berries, while avoiding bananas, melons, and overly sweet, heavy fruits. Dairy intake should be reduced and if at all you must, favor lighter options like goat cheese or yogurt in small amounts, and choose ghee over heavier oils for healthy fat intake.
2. Drink detox teas
Beyond tulsi, cinnamon, and ginger, a classic Ayurvedic detox is the consider
coriander, cumin, and fennel (CCF tea.) You can also try nettle and dandelion tea for a liver detox. This combination also clears Kapha stagnation. Licorice and ginger tea are great for clearing mucus and boosting digestion.
3. Wake up with the sun
Kapha’s influence is strongest between 6–10 AM. Waking up early ensures lightness and energy while oversleeping can lead to sluggishness and mental fog.
4. Dry brushing (Garshana) stimulates circulation.
Garshana (using a dry brush or raw silk gloves) improves circulation, lymphatic drainage, and detoxification. It also reduces cellulite and water retention caused by Kapha imbalance. It stimulates digestion by activating the lymphatic system, invigorates the senses, and prevents lethargy.
5. Oil massage (Abhyanga) with warming oils
Use light, warming oils like sesame or mustard to counteract Kapha’s heaviness. Add a few drops of eucalyptus or rosemary essential oil for an extra stimulating effect.
6. Spring cleanse with a simple kitchari detox
A 3–5 day kitchari cleanse (mung beans, basmati rice, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and coriander) is amazing for a digestive reset. It clears toxins, and prevents Kapha buildup, along with allowing some much needed rest for your digestive system.
These Ayurvedic practices sync your body with the season, ensuring vitality, clarity, and smooth transitions as nature shifts.