Summer. The season of Pitta. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s extreme.
We also have a tendency to be hot (think: cranky and critical) during the summer. How do we keep ourselves cool in this season of hot, wet, and extreme?
#1. Know yourself. What are your personal weaknesses and tendencies? Where are you most likely to go out of balance and how do you catch it before it happens? Irritability, frustration, anger, and excess heat (inflammation, acid, and hot flashes) are often Pitta imbalances.
#2. Balance the hot, wet qualities of summer by applying the opposite: COOL DOWN
Simple summer tips:
–Eat seasonally. Summer foods are naturally cooling (berries, cucumbers, etc). Eat simply, cooly, and maybe right off the stem. Digestion tends to be weaker in the summer, so it’s important to eat easy to digest foods. An overabundance of raw foods may not be the best thing for your digestion. Lightly steam your vegetables to give your digestion a jump start.
–Movement. We spent the spring moving more vigorously to eliminate the excess gunk that accumulated over the winter. Now it is time to think cool and gentle. Don’t over-push yourself. Think gentle yoga with cooling breath work. Think cool hikes under the canopy of trees. Think swimming!! Water is cooling and calming. PS: if you just got really irritated because I suggested a more cooling practice for summer that might be a sign of excess Pitta/heat. You’ll find more cooling practices in our yoga classes: join on Zoom for a Weekly Home Practice (includes the weekly recording) or in person on Wednesday evenings at the Community Church in North Orange! Currently, we are working with balancing the Gunas (qualities) that are most likely to show up in Summer and be troublesome. Join a yoga class to learn more about these Gunas (qualities).
–You may have more sensitive skin in the summer, so don’t be surprised if you need to revamp your skin regime for the summer. Rose water spritzer is awesome!! It’s cooling and toning for the skin. Coconut oil is the go-to cooling summer oil. Neem is a great go-to for cuts, scrapes, bites, and persistent irritated skin. Neem is a great soap to discourage bugs! TREAT YOURSELF TO A SUMMER COCONUT ABHYANGA!!
–Avoid the addictives. They are usually hot: coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol. Trade out coffee for cool herbal teas through the day. Consider cumin, coriander, and fennel tea. It’s balancing, cooling, and wise.
–Pittas like to learn things. Maybe as you putter around the garden, learn something about the plants going in your yard. If you don’t use pesticides or over-mow, you might find plantain (great for insect bites). You might find dandelion (the best liver and blood cleanser). You might find violets (packed with vitamin A so it’s great in skin salves). You might find Jewel Weed on the edge of your woods, it’s your go-to for poison ivy. Explore. Slow down and learn. Grab a backyard herb book, maybe this one by Rosalee de la Foret. Or study a yoga book. Maybe think about joining us for Yoga Teacher Trainings to expand your knowledge and wisdom!!
–Use a little less salt and a little less spicy. Remember we are reducing heat and water. Explore cooling spices instead of salt. Fennel for starters…
–Time outs!!! We are grown ups, so we have to give ourselves our own time outs. Take some time for yourself to just be. Put the phone and the laptop away. Stop working. Go to the beach, the lake, or hang out under the moon. All cooling practices.
Consider a Self Care Date: time to go someplace you love to go, all by yourself. Get to know (or Remember) who you are and let that person shine (Pitta in balance glows and shines like a beautiful light…rebalance your Self to shine).
–Cooling coconut oil body treatments or self massage (Abhyanga). TREAT YOURSELF to a Coconut or Pitta Balancing Oil Abhyanga. New treatment times are available.
Think cooling and kind practices for summer. Don’t overdo it. Laugh and stay cool. Eat well (not too much, mostly plants, right off the stem). Spend leisurely time with the company you love that helps to keep you calm, cool, and steady. You know who they are, the loves you can really and truly relax with.
Feel free to contact me with follow up questions!! BeeWell Gatherings are the most excellent place to ask anything!! We meet the first Friday of every month (no BeeWell in August)!
Trillium Ayurveda 