Ready.

The rain was falling hard on Saturday morning, but the house was full of smiles as we prepared ourselves for a day of yoga and ayurveda. I had friends and family down on Friday night for various reasons, and on Saturday the friends and I headed to the yoga studio for a workshop with the Ayurvedic Yogi. The workshop was well-timed for all, and heralded a new beginning at the spring equinox. As the morning began, there was a general acknowledgement that at this time of year, just before spring really gets underway, we may well be feeling sluggish (yes), uninspired (yes), tired (yes) and a little overweight (umm...that too). Our workshop was just the remedy we needed.

Picture from Lilypodyoga.com

Ayurveda is to the body what yoga is to the mind. The Ayurvedic Yogi believes that our bodies are in need of as much love and attention as our spirits, in order to maintain full and healthy equilibrium. In order to meet your body's needs you must first discover your own natural dosha or constitution; Vata (predominantly air and space elements), Pitta (fire and water elements) or Kapha (earth and water). Whilst we all have a little of each type, and sometimes different parts of our bodies are predominantly different dosha, there is usually one which stands out. In order to maintain your natural doshic balance, different types are advised to make careful choices about what they eat and drink, as well as what they choose to put on their skin.

My dosha is predominantly Pitta but with quite a few Vata elements. My body type fell quite neatly into the Pitta type - average build, strong constitution, pale skin and prone to overheating; the Vata elements appeared to be linked more with my emotions - prone to anxiety and creativity in equal measure, occasional skin irritations or digestive problems when overwrought. In order to balance the overheating I should really be avoiding coffee, hot foods and alcohol and in order to balance the occasional dryness of my skin I should be using naturally nourishing ingredients such as milk powder, oatmeal and ground almonds.

We spent our morning in a long yoga session, then settled down together in Charlotta's kitchen for an Ayurvedic lunch. Our lesson was in the afternoon and we had the chance to make our doshic beauty products which really are good enough to eat; if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it on your skin.

The day was truely restorative. And today, the rain had gone. Spring has sprung and now, I am ready for it.