If you're one of those sensitive people, you'll know that the seasons can often have a strong impact on your physical well-being. To balance these seasonal fluctuations, it's important that you take the time to delve into your emotional world and become clear about what you need. In other words, you can learn to clearly recognize your feelings and needs – and these are completely different depending on the season. Yoga can help you achieve balance in many moments. We'll explain all the important information related to this topic in this article.
The seasons and man
You are a very sensitive being and are directly connected to nature. Therefore, it's logical that the seasons affect you and your mood changes. Certain behaviors are therefore typical of a particular cycle and are performed instinctively. In principle, it's normal for human behavior (e.g., including diet, sleep, etc.) to change depending on the time of year.
a) Different feeling of hunger and focus on seasonal foods
A significant phenomenon that many people can perceive, perhaps even you, is that the feeling of hunger is completely different in winter than in summer. Therefore, one's diet can be adjusted according to the seasons. Due to the constant availability of food, the majority of people in industrialized countries no longer even know which foods are currently in season. Only when you re-examine this topic will you notice the significant change in your personality and body when you suddenly eat according to the season.
According to Ayurveda and other nutritional teachings, foods that are grown and consumed seasonally have a completely different effect on the body. Therefore, it's essential that you tailor your diet accordingly. It's best to inform yourself about the specific months and their seasonal offerings. A cucumber or strawberry that's in season tastes completely different and provides you with significantly more nutrients than a product from a greenhouse or one that's traveled thousands of kilometers.
Basically:
- In summer, cooking can be significantly lighter than in winter. The focus is on foods grown in the garden. Fresh fruit such as nectarines, plums, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, etc., and garden vegetables such as spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and carrots can be eaten daily. The menu consists primarily of cold dishes that cool the body.
- Winter has a different effect on both mind and body. The ingredients in dishes are no longer as light, but rather hearty. Soups, homemade sauerkraut, stews, and so on are on the table. A diet that is warm and has a beneficial effect on the body is ideal.
- In autumn and spring there is a mixture of the diets mentioned above.
It's important for everyone to pay attention to their own rhythm in life and their cravings. These provide guidelines for how you should eat on a daily basis. In this context, it's helpful to know your Ayurvedic dosha type: There are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. This can be easily determined with a test – once you know the result, you can eat according to the guidelines or Ayurvedic recommendations. In India, for example, almost everyone knows their type and can therefore tailor their entire diet to the doshas.
b) Sleep rhythm
Sleep also changes throughout the year. In winter, we tend to need more rest, which naturally affects our sleep patterns. It gets dark earlier, and many people tend to go to bed earlier. Getting up in the morning is much more difficult. In summer, on the other hand, it stays light for a long time, and you're woken up by birdsong in the morning. This, of course, has a completely different effect on sleep. The reason we get tired when it gets dark is the release of melatonin.
Ideally, you should adjust your sleep rhythm to your habits and make sure you get enough sleep. This will help you maintain better mental balance.
c) Our psyche throughout the year
Naturally, our psychological state changes throughout the year. This is precisely where yoga or meditation can bring inner peace. Our psychological experience varies from month to month. While winter is more about retreat and rest, spring, when all the flowers bloom and the grass grows again, feels completely different. The earth resurfaces, and at the same time, people experience numerous feelings of happiness that have a positive effect on their well-being. Summer represents elation and is characterized by a consistently good mood—the sun has many positive effects on mental health. Autumn invites contemplation and allows time for reflection and introspection. The result is that many people who live in harmony with the seasons are significantly happier and more content.
Yoga and the seasons – what should you keep in mind?
First of all: You can, of course, always do whatever exercises are beneficial to you. However, there are specific versions that support the human body, mind, and soul in a unique way.
In summer, for example, you can activate the spleen and stomach meridians on your yoga mat . This can be done with exercises like heel pose, knee-to-chest pose, or frog pose. Camel pose is also helpful. These asanas will help you recharge your batteries.
In winter you can incorporate the following exercises:
- Inverted Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana)
- Cobra (Bhujangasana)
- Bow (Dhanurasana)
- Locust Pose (Shalabhasana)
Of course, breathing exercises are also essential. Breathing fire, which involves inhaling and exhaling very quickly, or inhaling through the right nostril can be helpful. A morning meditation on a meditation cushion helps you get through the day smoothly in winter.
In spring, sun salutations and other flowing movements (such as Vinyasa Flows) are perfect. It's also good for strengthening liver and gallbladder energy. Autumn is the season of letting go, so asanas that support this process are especially popular. These include forward bends, hip-opening asanas, side bends, crocodile poses, etc.
What exercises do you incorporate during the different seasons?
