5 Ayurvedic Tips for Summer

A balanced summer routine is geared towards soothing excess fire energy, while also enjoying the transformative, lustrous, creative qualities of this season.

An easy, delicious, hydrating drink for summer-time vibes ~ Butterfly pea flower ice cubes with lemonade & mint for garnish 🤌🧊

Introduction

Welcome Summer, greeted by the Summer Solstice which is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In Ayurveda, there are 5 elements that possess certain qualities and help us understand the nature of everything – food, mind-body types, time of life, places, seasons, etc.

The 5 elements are Air, Ether, Fire, Water, & Earth.

Can you guess which (two) may be associated with Summer?

If you guessed Fire as the first of the Summer elements, you're correct. The Fire element, as you might intuit, is hot, light, rough, and sharp in nature. Fire is about transformation. The second element associated with Summer is Water, which is flowing, oily, heavy, and powerful. Together, fire + water makes the Pitta Dosha.

So what does this all mean exactly? Like every season, summer comes with its own unique personality, and your unique mind-body type determines how the increased Pitta of Summer will affect you. For example, people who are already elevated in heat, fire, anger, and intensity will want to pay special attention this season so as to not further aggravate these tendencies. However, someone who is typically cool, lethargic even, may find the heat and intensity of summer to be a welcome change from the long cold winter months.

If all this sounds complicated, don't fret! Let's get back to the basics:

Like increases like and opposites balance.

A few simple seasonal changes can be quite helpful in supporting your overall well-being. A balanced summer routine is geared towards balancing excess pitta energy, while also enjoying the transformative, lustrous, creative qualities of this season.

5 Ayurvedic Tips for Summer

Start with awareness. Begin by paying attention to how you feel and what is shifting this season; your intuitive-self knows best. Here are 5 general tips for helping you align with Pitta season.

1. Slow Down & Cool Down

While summer can motivate movement and activity, you'll want to be aware of the times of day you exercise. Avoid 10am-2pm, which are pitta hours. Early morning is ideal when the air is cooler. You'll also want to calm down the intensity of your workouts, especially if you tend towards perfectionism and over-achieving – opt for calm inner awareness as opposed to exerting maximum effort. Slow down your yoga routines so it is fluid, gentle, and with stable nostril breathing.

2. Stay Hydrated

The heat of this season can cause excess dryness. While it's not typically recommended to drink iced beverages, this is the one time of year that, in moderation, can be acceptable. Better yet is cool or room-temperature water and tea. Opt for our cooling teas such as Stomach Relief & Liver Support and Cumin, Coriander & Fennel Teas, available in loose blends, pyramid tea bags, and as a bundle.

3. Check in on Your Food

The ideal flavors for summer are sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes. It's the best time of year for fresh fruits and raw salads, in moderation. Unrefined sweeteners can be enjoyed (moderately) during the summer, but stay away from honey and molasses, which can be too heating.

Here are some great fruits and veggies for the season: berries, apples, mangoes, coconut, pomegranates, pears, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, celery, collard greens, cucumbers, kale, sweet potatoes, cilantro, and fennel. Ghee, coconut, and olive oils are best for Pitta.

Limit hot, spicy, salty, oily, fried foods, and reduce or eliminate alcohol and caffeine, as these can aggravate Pitta. (Try our Herbal Coffee instead!)

Try my pitta-pacifying lunch: Kitchari, topped with veggies (zucchini, fennel, cilantro) sautéed with ghee and spices, and homemade toasted coconut flakes

4. Herbs & Spices for Summer

The same tastes apply when looking for appropriate herbs and spices for summer. Cilantro, Coriander, Cardamom, Fennel, Licorice, and Mint/Peppermint are wonderful this time of year. Try Iced Cumin Coriander Fennel Tea with Pear & Mint.

5. Lifestyle Choices

Consider picking up a few of these general lifestyle tips to help you harmoniously navigate this season:

Get a massage, or give yourself a massage using the light, cooling coconut oil with rose, lavender, jasmin, sandalwood or chamomile essential oil.
Listen to slow, peaceful, loving music to help intense Pitta to slow down. Soft musical sounds at a medium volume of flute, clarinet, saxophone, harmonica, violin, mandolin, dulcimer, and gentle drums are very healing for Pitta.
The sound of water is also excellent. Walking along a flowing stream or lapping lake is very good for a Pitta.
Wear soft, pastel colors to soothe away tensions. Blue, green, purple, and indigo are particularly beneficial. Working in a green environment is very good for a Pitta constitution.
Spritz rose water on your face, throat, and navel anytime you need a burst of freshness.

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