Late Winter, Spring & Kapha: An Ayurvedic Perspective

In Ireland, we say that spring begins on February 1st.
But if we’re honest… despite the new stirrings of life, it still feels very much like winter.
It’s cold.
It’s wet.
It’s damp.
Ayurveda actually makes a lot of sense of this. Rather than dividing the year into four seasons, Ayurveda teaches six seasons, allowing for these subtle transitions that we experience so clearly in nature.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, Mid-January until mid-March is considered late winter. So February is still very much winter.
So why does this matter?

Winter is the season of Kapha accumulation.
Spring is the season of Kapha aggravation.

Kapha is made up of the elements earth and water, and its qualities are heavy, cold, slow, and damp — very similar to the Irish winter climate.
A helpful way to think about this is like the natural world around us:
In winter, everything freezes.
In spring, as temperatures rise, the ice begins to melt.
The same thing happens in the body.

What we accumulate during winter begins to move and mobilise in spring.

How we live now, in late winter, has a big impact on how we feel once spring arrives.

When Kapha builds up in the body, it can feel like:

• Heaviness or sluggishness
• Low motivation
• Slower digestion
• Weight gain
• Joint stiffness

Mentally and emotionally, Kapha can feel like:

• Lethargy
• Low mood or mild depression
• Mental fog or fatigue
• A “stuck”, dull, or heavy feeling

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

When spring arrives and the thaw begins, aggravated Kapha can show up as:

• Respiratory congestion (colds, coughs, hay fever)
• Sinus pressure
• Ongoing lethargy
• Joint discomfort
• Low mood or mental fatigue

The good news? There’s a lot we can do now to support balance.

To prevent too much Kapha accumulation during these final weeks of winter, Ayurveda encourages us to think in opposites.

Kapha is cold, damp, and heavy — so we lean into warm, light, and dry.

Some simple, realistic ways to do that:

• Choose warm foods and drinks
  Think soups, stews, cooked meals, and warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper.
• Move your body (a little goes a long way)
  It can be hard to feel motivated in cold, wet weather, but even 10 minutes of movement a day can make a big difference.
• Wrap up and get outside
  Aim for 10 minutes a day if you can, and keep an eye out for signs of spring returning.
• Use heat
  Saunas, warm baths, or simply staying well wrapped all help counter cold and damp.

Movement is especially powerful — it’s one of the best antidotes to Kapha’s heaviness.

Alongside small daily steps, this is also a lovely time to begin thinking ahead to spring.

From an Ayurvedic point of view, spring runs from mid-March to mid-May and is traditionally a time for gentle cleansing, renewal, and lightening — both physically and mentally.

That might look like:

• Creating space in your schedule
• Simplifying meals
• Letting go of habits that feel heavy or draining
• Setting intentions for the season ahead

Small, thoughtful preparation now can make spring feel much easier in the body.

Spring is on its way — even if it doesn’t quite feel like it yet.

Lets remember that:

• Like increases like
• To stay balanced during Kapha Season, we need to think light, dry, and warm
• Movement matters — walking, dancing, yoga, whatever helps you feel a little more alive

I’d love to know:

• Can you feel the late winter / Kapha energy right now?
• Do you change your routines with the seasons?
• Will you try one small shift this week?

You can work with me to navigate seasonal change through our Seasonal Day Retreats  , one-to-one with an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation, or as part of of Ayurvedic Sprig Cleanse Programme.

If your want to chat or discuss what option would suit you best let’s chat – drop me an email to info@yoganessireland.ie I’d love to here from you.

x

Nessa