Staying balanced through this transitional time.

This seems to be the conundrum these days…… especially for those of us in the San
Francisco Bay Area. It feels like Spring, at least for the last week….warm sunshine, birds
singing, the smell of fresh cut grass but it’s still extremely cold, windy and the weather
forecast calls for more rain.

According to Ayurveda there is a transition period, 7 days prior to the start of the new
season and 7 days after the start of the new season. This is called Ritu Sandhi (Seasons –
In Between). We officially welcome Spring on March 20th. So, until about March 27th we
may be feeling ‘In Between’.

Remember a few weeks back I mentioned what we see out in nature we also will see in
our mind/body? Well, in my Yoga classes and with my private Yoga therapy clients, I’m
seeing:
~Anxiety
~Depression
~Insomnia
~Digestive Problems
~Being Off Balance – Falling
Everyone wants to know, “how do I get balanced?”
Here are some Ayurvedic recommendations…..

From now until about March 27th:
BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR ROUTINE
~go to bed by 10pm and wake up by 7am
~eat your biggest meal during lunchtime and
have your smallest meal at dinner….like blended soup
~be done eating by 7pm
~exercise at the same time every day
~have a daily meditation or Yoga practice…doesn’t have to be an hour long
~practice balancing poses

CHECK YOURSELF…WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING INTO YOUR BODY?
~minimize refined sugar
~minimize caffeine
~cut out alcohol
~minimize raw foods
~minimize iced/cold drinks
~avoid heavy-to-digest foods
FEED YOUR SOUL
~stop & breathe
~listen to Yoga Nidra, meditate
~set an intention at the start of your day
~give yourself a daily or nightly, loving, self-massage with your favorite organic oil
~laugh
Yes, Spring is almost here but don’t pack away your jackets just yet, Ayurveda calls for a
gradual letting go of the ending season. We must slowly move into Spring, slowly inviting
Spring-like behavior. This will help us to physically, emotionally, and mentally ease into
our next seasonal phase!

Ayurveda means wisdom/knowledge of life. It is an ancient practice that
can be traced back to India. Considered a 6,000 year old healthcare
system, Ayurveda is a way of life to experience wholeness & wellness on
all levels. With ancient teachings such as Ayurveda, there is much to be
learned. I am by no means an expert in Ayurveda. I have been studying
and practicing Ayurveda since 2013. I am a new student and humbled to
say I have so much more to learn, perhaps a lifetime of studying. My daily
practice of Ayurveda has brought about a profound understanding of
unhealthy patterns and how I can better take care of myself & my family
PLUS I use some of the basic Ayurvedic principles to help support my
Yoga Therapy clients and my group classes. I’m excited to share this with
you too!
Yvette is a mom of 3 children and the founder of The Center for Vital Living in Cotati,
CA. She is the creator of Vital Living Wellness, organic & seasonal self-care product
line. With a strong love & thrust for ancient wisdom, Yvette has been studying
Ayurveda for 8 years and continues. Yvette understands that being well means
taking care of the whole person, inside and out.