Slide into Summer
It’s Pitta season! In Ayurvedic medicine, Summer is associated with the Pitta Dosha.
Ayurvedic medicine is the sister science to yoga and is all about balancing the doshas-the 3 dominant energies that comprise our bodily constitution-which are paramount to our health and wellbeing.
They are: vata, pitta and kapha, and while we’re typically more dominant in one, we share all 3.
As we transition into new seasons, sometimes we experience imbalance or aggravation of one or more doshas.
And it’s especially easy to experience an aggravation of pitta –too much fire- and be thrown off balance during the warmer seasons.
So…. how may you stay balanced during this firey, pitta season? I offer you a little bit more info here on the tips in the image above, so you can choose which practices or rituals may be most beneficial for you this summer.
GROUNDING:
✭Add calming, strong, steady yoga poses like Triangle, Standing forward folds, Tree Pose & Warrior 2 for building stability, strength and balance.
✭Walk barefoot on grass, sand or cool earth when you feel overwhelmed, untethered or stressed. It’s been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help regulate the endocrine and nervous systems. Plus, it lets you get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!
✭Try sleeping on your right side to help keep and open the Ida Nadi or energy channel whose qualities are cooling & calming, Energetically, our left side is the more receptive, feminine, cooling, lunar energy side of our body.
✭Add an abhyanga ritual to your personal hygiene routine.
ABHYANGA is SELF MASSAGE, A COMMON PRACTICE IN AYURVEDIC MEDICINE AS A SAFE & EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACTIVATE BLOOD & LYMPH CIRCULATION, DETOXIFY SKIN & CELLS, IMPROVE SKIN TONE & TEXTURE.
HOW TO DO
POUR ABOUT A QUARTER-SIZED PORTION OF OIL INTO YOUR PALM & RUB TOGETHER TO WARM, THEN MASSAGE THE OILS INTO YOUR SKIN, IN LONG STROKES UPWARD TOWARD YOUR HEART. MASSAGE IN CIRCULAR MOTIONS AT THE JOINTS, CUPPING YOUR HAND IN A ‘C’ SHAPE. USE MORE OIL AS NEEDED. DON’T FORGET YOUR FEET & TOPS OF FINGERS & HANDS
ABHYANGA IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GROUND YOURSELF, APPRECIATE YOUR BODY & SELF-SOOTHE, WHILE NOURISHING & HYDRATING YOUR SKIN & JOINTS. THIS SIMPLE ACT OF SELF LOVE CAN BE DONE AFTER YOUR MORNING OR EVENING SHOWER, WHEN YOUR SKIN IS WARM AND RECEPTIVE. USE COCONUT OR SUNFLOWER OIL AND SCENT WITH ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED OILS IN THE GUIDE ABOVE.
NUTRITION:
✭Try adding sliced cucumber or mint to a pitcher of room temp water, and drink plenty throughout the day. Hibiscus iced tea is a refresher and high in vitamin C
✭Enjoy more cooling, seasonal fruits & veg, room temp and sometimes raw (salads with roasted veggies and a protein make an excellent meal) Quinoa or short grain brown rice can be added to any soup, salad or even as a filling once seasoned in wraps or sandwiches.
✭Because summer is warm enough, try moderating your spicy food intake, because it can aggravate your already overheated state.
RITUALS:
✭Full and New Moon ceremonies are simple effective ways to honor yourself and the season you’re in. Full moon invites us to let go of what doesn’t matter anymore or what’s no longer serving you. You can have a mini fire ceremony around letting go of it. New moons are an opportunity to call in something new, set a new ritual, or invite a new intention/vision or goal. Journal about it and come back to it at the next new moon and see how it’s been serving you.
✭Begin a daily 5-7 min pranayama practice of Sitali (straw breathing) and Chandra Bhedi (alternate, left nostril breathing)
HOW TO DO STRAW BREATHING:
ᐧSIT WITH YOUR SPINE NICE AND TALL
ᐧCURL YOUR TONGUE LIKE A TACO. (IF YOU CANNOT CURL YOUR TONGUE, PUCKER YOUR LIPS AS IF TO SIP A BEVERAGE THROUGH A TINY STRAW)
ᐧTAKE A BREATH IN THROUGH YOUR STRAW, NICE AND SLOW, THEN CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND EXHALE OUT YOUR NOSE
ᐧREPEAT 2 MORE TIMES
NOW MOVE ON TO THE CHANDRA BHEDI or MOON BREATH
ᐧCLOSE YOUR RIGHT NOSTRIL AND BREATHE IN SLOWLY THROUGH THE LEFT
ᐧCLOSE BOTH NOSTRILS, AND OPEN THE RIGHT NOSTRIL TO EXHALE
ᐧCONTINUE BREATHING IN THROUGH THE LEFT AND EXHALING THROUGH THE RIGHT. 5-10 TIMES.
CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY:
✭ Drop the crazy-busy schedule. Just because there are more daylight hours in summer, doesn’t mean we have to fill them all up with doing stuff!
✭Be selective about how and with whom you spend your time and energy. Seek out equal-energy relationships-the ones that fill you up rather that deplete you.
✭Focus on relaxing and being less controlling and rigid.
✭Give space to find an even rhythm to your workday instead of moving intensely from task to task.
Here’s to a balanced, happy summer, friends!