Do you know the feeling that quietly settles in around February or March? A certain sluggishness, a longing for change, sometimes a heaviness that has gathered over the winter. Maybe you slept more, reached for sweets more often, had less energy for movement. I hear this every year from my guests in Cologne — and I tell them the same thing each time: this is not a failure. This is simply the rhythm of the season.
The Ayurvedic concept of Ritucharya — seasonal living — describes how closely we move with the seasons. Winter is quiet on the outside and turned inward: we withdraw, rest, gather our strength. Ayurveda calls the phase that follows Kapha time. When spring arrives, the days grow longer and the sun returns, many of us naturally want to feel lighter — to declutter, breathe out, let a little fresh air in.
What Kapha Season Means as a Well-Being Orientation
Ayurveda assigns a quality to each season. Early spring carries the Kapha quality: rather heavy, damp, cool — you can sense it in the grey of the last winter weeks. This is not a diagnosis and not a finding, simply an observation about mood and rhythm. The lovely part: once I know which quality is in the air, I can bring balance with small habits — with whatever feels light, warm and fresh. That is the whole heart of Ritucharya.
Eating in Spring: Light, Warm, Well-Spiced
Spring, for me, is not a time for heavy plates. In these weeks I like to cook warming yet light: plenty of fresh vegetables, bitter and tangy notes like chicory, rocket or radicchio, plus warming spices such as ginger, turmeric and a little black pepper. I let the richest, very sweet or very heavy dishes step back a little — not because they are 'bad', but because lighter, warm meals simply feel more fitting to many of us in this season.
A little morning ritual I love in spring: a glass of warm water, a squeeze of lemon, a pinch of ginger. No miracle cure, no promises — simply a warm, fresh start to the day that keeps me awake and present into the morning. Rituals like this give the transition some structure, and structure feels especially good as the seasons change.
Movement and Massage: A Little More Momentum Than in Winter
While in winter I treasure the deep, nourishing calm of a classic Abhyanga with sesame oil, spring may be a touch livelier. In my practice I then like to work with a lighter oil and a little more movement in the strokes — less stillness, more flow. Many guests describe it afterwards as pleasantly awake and fresh, as if the body had shaken off the long winter sleep. It replaces no medical treatment and is not a medical offering — it is a soothing time-out.
On the mat, too, spring invites more momentum. Surya Namaskar, the sun salutation, is the spring signal for me — ideally in the morning, with joy in the movement. Gentle twists and opening the chest feel especially good now and bring lightness to body and mood. You don't have to achieve anything; it is about the feeling of getting into motion again.
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And if you feel that spring hasn't yet brought the lightness you were hoping for — if you'd like to give yourself a mindful time-out and a little freshness — I am happy to accompany you. A warm Abhyanga in Cologne-Ehrenfeld can be exactly the quiet, friendly impulse that makes the new season feel a little lighter.