Sacred Summer
Simple Strategies for Summertime Balance.
Wellness Made Simple & Easy.
Summertime, according to Ayurveda, gives rise to the Pitta dosha (Panchamahabhutas - Fire & Water). Thus, we may experience heightened elemental tendencies or attributes during this hot, light, and sharp “pitta season”. In efforts to keep our bodies and minds properly balanced, nourished, and hydrated we must make a conscious effort. Educating ourselves about the way this particular season could potentially create imbalance is a proactive step in intentionally nurturing overall balance and health this summer.
Some common signs and symptoms of Pitta imbalance are as follows:
acute inflammation in the body or joints
uncomfortable feelings of excess heat in the body
nausea or discomfort upon missing meals
loose stools
red, inflamed, or light-sensitive eyes
red, inflamed rash, acne, or cold sores
heightened frustration, anger, and irritability
pronounced or excessive perfectionistic tendencies
heightened judgment, impatience, criticism, or intolerance
Therefore, as we approach the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20th, I encourage you to invite in three simplistic strategies for maintaining balance, enhancing nourishment, and nurturing overall health and wellbeing this summer season.
Moderation
Pitta (fire + water) governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature. When in balance, Pitta promotes understanding and intelligence. However, when out of balance, Pitta ignites anger, jealousy, and impatience. This is why moderation is key to keeping excess Pitta under control. During the summer season, you'll want to adopt a mentality of moderation. From exercise to food intake, but do keep in mind that moderation extends beyond nourishment. For example, we can moderate the amount of work we do on any given week ensuring sufficient time for play as well as self-care. Living life in moderation is helpful for keeping Pitta in balance.
Nourishment-wise, we can try moderating the amount of hot, spicy foods we are consuming during this already hot and spicy season. Instead, we can include foods that are naturally sweet, bitter, and astringent in rasa (taste) as these taste profiles are more likely to pacify Pitta. Foods that are pungent, sour, and salty can promote Pitta imbalance, so we can enjoy these tastes in moderation throughout the summer season. We can also simply prioritize more cooling spices, like fresh cilantro, coriander, fennel, and cardamom. These spices will help to foster greater balance in the mind and body throughout summer. A wonderful summertime tonic that aids in the reduction of ama (undigested/toxic residue) and assists in properly balancing Agni (digestive fire/metabolism) without stimulating too much heat is CCF tea with fresh lime juice, served at room temperature with a tsp. of fresh, local honey. Try this simplistic tonic as a wonderful Ayurvedic substitute for summertime "sweet tea".
Ingredients:
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
4–5 cups water
Freshly squeezed lime (to taste)
1 tsp. fresh, local honey
Directions:
Heat the water in a stainless steel pot over high heat. Add the spice seeds. Allow the tea to boil for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on preferred strength. Strain out the seeds by pouring through a strainer into a glass jar/or strain back into a "cooling pot". Allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Add the fresh local honey when the beverage is warm, not hot. This will preserve the nutrients in the honey, allowing the honey to properly blend and dissolve. When room temperature and ready to enjoy, squeeze fresh lime to taste. Serve in a mason jar or your favorite summer glass.
Cooling.
Some of the best Pitta-pacifying foods are perhaps some of the most nutritious. Leafy greens, coconut, cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Ghee (clarified butter) is also a great addition to any summertime nourishment plan. Ghee, used in moderation, helps to pacify Pitta due to its cold and sweet properties. The sweet taste has a sustained cooling and anti-inflammatory effect on the body which helps to offset Pitta's tendency towards excess heat and inflammation.
Other examples of foods with sweet/cooling taste:
Fruit: dates, figs, mangos
Veggies: beets, cucumbers, sweet potatoes
Grains: corn, rice, wheat
Nuts: almonds, cashews, coconut
Dairy: ghee, milk, eggs
Herbs / Spices: basil, coriander, fennel, and saffron
Again, think beyond nourishment. For example, other cooling practices include - going for a cool dip or plunge in the river, stream, or swimming pool. Sitali and or Sitkari pranayama are powerful cooling techniques that we can add to our daily self-care and breathwork practices to nurture better balance and ease this season. Sign up for my streaming content and enjoy 40+ hours of pre-recorded seasonal balancing yoga and pranayama practices.
Surrender.
The concept that transformation takes place on the other side of surrender is one of life's greatest lessons. Tapas means “to heat or burn up,” referring to the way consistency in practice burns away impurities to make room for truth. When we intentionally practice surrendering daily, we can nurture a more profound and sustainable foundation for transformation, overall health, healing, and wellbeing- especially during the summer season.
Therefore, this summer I encourage you to let your hair down! Be curious about how you might begin to continually embrace the sweetness of summer found in surrender. Perhaps there are current challenges or hardships in your life that you can meet with more grace and ease? Surrender to letting go of anger, resentment, and or resistance. Simply surrender to summer and the simple sweetness of life.
To learn more about ritucharya (seasonal practices) or for customized self-care practices, nutrition support, and well-living mentorship, sign up for an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consult by choosing from any of my Wellness Coaching and Accountability Mentorship Packages. These transformative packages can provide accountability, adaptability, and guidance through all seasons and stages of life, making it easier for you to remain in a state of balance and optimal health.
Remember, your journey to wellness can and should be simple and easy!