Diwali marks the onset of winters, there is a lot of symbolism between light and warmth of diyas as well as gorging on sweets to brace ourselves for winters.
Chole Bhature, Kulche, Lassi and a lot of ghee…these foods are too heavy to digest in summers and monsoons, but make perfect winter foods. Usually, people complain of sluggish digestion etc when they have high fat/ protein/ oily foods like Chole Bhature, Kulche, Lassi, green vegetables, nuts, seeds in summers and monsoon.
Pre-Winter is from mid-Nov to mid-Jan ie Hemant Ritu and winter is from mid-Jan to mid-March ie Shishir Ritu. It is a cooler time of the year, as its Dakshinayan(Winter Solstice) – a phase where the moon’s influence on earth is much stronger.
It is a season pre-dominated by Vata – Kapha in the environment and in the body. To keep up with the external cold(vata) – agni i.e. the body’s digestive fire is at a peak in the winter season so the body can acclimatise with the coldness in the weather.
For people who have a hard time gaining weight, this is the best time as the Kapha in the body is high during winters. So winters are the time where you can eat foods you usually love but cannot digest in other seasons due to the heavy nature of food – like sweets, high protein foods etc. During this season, it is cold and windy, so heavy foods provide grounding, warmth and stability to the body.
Winters are also the best time to up your workout and physical activity because the body can naturally build strength because it can digest and assimilate foods better. The sun sets earlier, and rises late so the body goes into the rest and relax mode more easily. Since it’s natural for the body to rest, it gets easier for the body tissues to be nourished and to be built. Winters happen to be the best season for sun-bathing too.
Asanas and Pranayamas which are generally not advisable when it’s hot, can be done in this season. Asanas like Suryanamaskars, Pranayams like Bhastrika and Shuddhikriyas like kapalbhati. Traditionally, in India, it’s the best time to train for and do wrestling.
It is advisable to apply moisture in the form of warm oils so as to nourish the body from cold winds, exfoliation and dry masks are to be avoided by all means due to the increased dryness due to cold. Likewise cold foods, cold water and raw foods are best avoided. Since its a time where the body may get a bit more prone to cold and sluggishness due to increase in Kapha, it is the time to enjoy warm water, hot teas and coffees. It is also recommended to wear warm clothes and to cover the ear and head in this season. Burning dhoop helps clear the respiratory passages of excess mucus. Fasting and dieting is to be avoided in the season because it leads to tissue loss and debility because when the body craves for food, it can use its own tissues as fuel for that extra hunger.
Apply these tips to have a hassle free and nourishing season, happy winters!
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