Healthy Seasonal Living: Spring Renewal Rituals

​Spring is the season of beginning and creation. After winter and lots of time spent indoors, our bodies (and spirits) can feel sluggish, depressed, and lethargic. Here are a few tips to increase your vitality and prepare for the new season ahead:

• ​Take daily walks outside. Even 5-10 minutes makes a difference. Listen to the birds sing and notice all that is changing outdoors.​​
• ​Open your windows and let in the fresh spring air.
• Put plans into action. Spring is a wonderful time for new beginnings.
• Cook a batch of Kitchari to promote healthy digestion. I like to serve Kitchari with a simple parsley salad. Rinse parsley, chop it up, and add a bit of lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper.
• ​Take a salt water bath. Add 3-4 cups of sea salt to a hot bath. At the end of your bath, add 5 drops of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata). Eucalyptus decongests and supports respiratory health. Not recommended for children and those with heart problems, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
• Exfoliate your skin and improve circulation with natural salt scrubs, or try dry skin brushing.
• Declutter your surroundings. Find one surface to clear off, or clean out one drawer. I find that cleaning off your nightstand is especially satisfying; it's typically the first and last thing you see every day.
• Eat more fresh greens and less sugar.
• Make parsley pesto. Simply substitute parsley for basil in your favorite pesto recipe. The mouth-watering aroma of fresh pesto is so invigorating. Parsley supports the immune system and flushes out excess fluids from the body.
• Try replacing a few of your beauty/personal care products with natural alternatives.
• Try spring cleaning with essential oils. ​​For a multi-purpose cleaner, fill up a large spray bottle with half water and half white distilled vinegar. Add 30 drops of essential oils, shake, and spray. Lemon, lavender, and tea tree are a few great oils for multi-purpose cleaning.

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“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” 

​― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden