Seasonal

As per Ayurveda there are three seasons categorized as per the Tridoshas:

Kapha Season (January to June)

Pitha Season (July to October)
Vatha Season (October to December)

Kapha Season
Kapha season starts from January and ends in June. This time of the year is usually cold and
dull and is a time when there is maximum possibility of Kapha imbalance. Flu, colds,
depression, gaining weight and laziness can all settle in during the Kapha season.

In order to bring back the balance and keep your body healthy it is worth keeping in mind
certain points.

Be active and exercise regularly. This will keep depression and laziness at bay.
Follow a Kapha pacifying diet. Include hot and spicy food and vegetables, fruits and
pulses which are good for balancing the Kapha. Use of cumin, ginger, fennel, pepper,
turmeric etc. are recommended.
Avoid or reduce the intake of sweets, salty food items, nuts, certain vegetables such as
cucumber, tomato, sweet potato, fruits such as oranges, bananas, pineapple etc.
Over-sleeping is not good in this particular season. Wake up early.
If you are planning to give your body an Ayurveda experience, this is the best time for
the same. Panchakarma treatment can be done effectively since the toxins can be
removed very effectively during this period.

Pitha Season
Pitha, the element of fire, starts becoming predominant in this season. It is the time of the
year when winter recedes and the bright, sunny and warm weather settles in, the body tends
to lose the sluggish Kapha element and becomes more lively and energetic.

The Pitha element needs to be kept under check to avoid Pitha-related ailments such as
heartburn, rashes, diarrhea etc. Here are some tips that you can follow during this season:

Since Pitha involves the element of fire, balancing it is made possible by drinking lots
of water, cool fruit juice etc.
Massage your body with sesame oil before bath.
Follow a Pitha pacifying diet by including juicy and fresh fruits, rice and pulses, milk
products except yogurt and cheese, spices such as fennel, coriander, parsley etc.
Avoid or reduce hot and spicy food, vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and carrots,
fruits such as grapes, orange, banana, lemon etc.
Relax and enjoy yourself. This season is perfect for a good family vacation and to
take a break from a hectic lifestyle.

Vatha Season
The warm summer season slowly makes way to the cold climate in the Vatha season. Vatha,
the dry, cold and rough element, is at its peak in this season. If you fail to avoid a Vatha
vitiation, you may suffer from problems such as insomnia, restlessness, constipation,
increased anxiety and so on.

Following are some guidelines for avoiding a Vatha imbalance:

Eat only well-cooked and hot food items. Cold food stuff needs to be avoided during
this season.
Maintain regular daily routine. It is important to remove the toxins formed in the body
by daily elimination process.
Favour or increase the intake of sweet and salty food, rice wheat, juicy fruits,
cashews, sesame, almonds etc.
Avoid or reduce dry and cold food, sour fruits, raw vegetables etc.
Massage your body with warm sesame oil before bath
Drinking warm water at regular intervals in a day can also help balance the Vatha
element

Please note that the Prakruthi of the person is also very important while deciding the diet and
routine for a particular season. An Ayurvedic physician can help you with this.

Daily

Ayurveda says that in order to lead a happy, healthy and contended life one needs to abide by
certain rules everyday. This daily regimen or Dinacharya describes the optimum time of the
day for our day to day activities.

As per Ayurveda every hour of the day has a specific Dosha predominance as indicated
below:

First cycle:

6 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Kapha

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Pitha
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Vatha

Second cycle:

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Kapha

10 p.m. to 2 a.m. - Pitha
2 a.m. to 6 a.m. - Vatha
 Wake up early. Starting a day early can refresh your body and mind, give you the
ability to concentrate in everything you do and make you relaxed. Brahma Muhurtha
(about 1.5 hrs before sunrise), when the Vatha element is predominant, is the best
time for meditation, Yoga and exercises and is also called the Time of God.

Wash your face with cool water soon after rising.

Drinking a glass of water can help in easing out the bowel movement. Proper bowel
movement is essential to keep the body healthy and to avoid the deposition of toxic
elements in the body. Natures call needs to be attended to everyday before breakfast.
Brush your teeth and clean your tongue daily.
Before bathing massage your body with sesame oil. Use warm water for bathing.
Breakfast should be wholesome, as per your Prakriti and able to supply the body with
the essential nutrients to kick-start your day. Fruits and cereals are the best options for
a healthy breakfast. Do not skip breakfast, chew your food well and never have food
in a hurry.
The best time for lunch is between 12 noon and 1 p.m. as Pitha, the Dosha responsible
for digestion is predominant during this period. Ayurveda advocates that lunch should
be the heaviest meal of the day.
A few minutes of rest and a short walk after lunch are recommended to aid digestion.
The late afternoon is perfect for meditation.
Say your prayers and meditate on God at dusk.
Dinner should preferably be between 6 and 7 p.m.
Go to bed early. An average of six to seven hours of sleep is required for an adult.