Do you ever feel drained of energy during the summer, a time when you really want to be out having fun? Do you get embarrassed because of skin rashes, bad breath or canker soars? Do you have to watch what you eat at parties because of food allergies, ulcers, hot flashes or heartburn?
If so, you’re not alone. So many people struggle with these imbalances in their bodies, especially during the summer.
Ayurveda believes that if we don’t adjust our diets and lifestyles to balance out the inherent qualities of the seasons we are more likely to struggle with unpleasant symptoms like the ones listed above.
Summer is referred to as pitta season by ayurvedic practitioners and devotees. Pitta is just a sanskrit word meaning “that which cooks” and refers to the combination of the elements of fire and water. Summer is pitta season because the qualities of nature are bright, hot, moving, sharp, liquid, acidic and oily. Physical activity seems to naturally ramp up and the sun is beating down strong.
In ayurveda we are given the opportunity to work with pitta season in order to experience more health by minding the delicate balance between hot & cold. If we have too much of the pitta qualities in our body and mind we can develop things like ulcers, inflammation, heartburn, skin rashes and liver disorders. On the other hand, if we cool ourselves down too much we put out our digestive fire, metabolism slows down and we lose our courage and drive.
The solution to leading a balanced summer is pretty simple:
Do less stuff that adds “heating” qualities to your life.
Do more stuff that adds “cooling” qualities to your life.
Exercise
Pittas should avoid exercising in the sun or participating in anything overly competitive because competition increases emotional heat. Brisk evening walks, early morning bike rides or jogs are good. Swimming is best for our hot-bodied friends, but water is not always accessible. Yoga is good for all bodies all year round, but absolutely NO Bikram yoga for pittas!!
schedule
Ever get a “second wind” at night with a sudden urge to clean the house from top to bottom? Or maybe you come up with a brilliant idea that can’t wait until morning? Welcome to pitta time (this goes for everyone, it’s nature’s law). Pitta time comes around twice a day, once from 10am-2pm and again from 10pm-2 am*
10am-2pm Around 10:00 am, we might get a little hungry for a snack. That’s because pitta energy has just moved in, increasing our agni (pg 9), prepping us to eat. The sun is strongest at noon and so is our agni (fires are aligned!) so lunch should be the biggest meal of the day. Pitta time is also a great time for strategic thinking, organizing, and any brainy activity because our mind is sharpest at this time.
10pm-2am Once 10pm rolls around, pitta kicks back in. This is bedtime. Pitta’s job is to process all food, emotions, thoughts, ideas and stresses, ridding what we no longer need, while we sleep. If we stay awake we will relive all the crud we were supposed to process! No bueno. This can result in feelings of unrest, anxiety and stress during the day because there hasn’t been proper processing. The body is smart and if we sleep when it cleans house (like we’re supposed to) we will wake up refreshed to begin everyday stress-free.
stress
Pittas hold the most weight on their shoulders, afterall they’re the leaders. To calm the mind and relieve stress, practice Nadi Shodhanam (alternate nostril breathing) daily. The nostrils are the quickest passage to the mind (that’s why aromatherapy works). And when the mind is easy, the body follows suit and stress, anger and emotional roller coaster ride will disappear. Also, get proper sleep.
scents
Sandalwood is instantly cooling, which makes it very soothing for the skin and as an added bonus, it rids negative energy! Pittas love the smell of sandalwood. It’s calming, grounding and comforting. Mint, ylang-ylang, camphor, rose and jasmine are some other scents to balance pitta.
Ghee
If you have not been introduced to all that is ghee-licious, I must share the good word.
Pitta and vata’s best friend, ghee:
• is the only oil/fat that increases agni (metabolism!)
• is the only oil/fat that is cooling (great for ‘heated’ disorders)
• reaches all bodily tissues to nourish and keep them supple
• has no harmful trans fats or hydrogenated oils
• relieves constipation
• has a high smoke point, does not burn, stir-fry away!
• is a sattvic food: brings harmony and peace to the mind, helping us make right choices
• nourishes the skin so it radiates (and helps prevent wrinkles)
Lifestyle: A little bit of sunshine can have a large impact on our spirits! This year especially, the onset of summer feels so positive and exhilarating, but at the same time, the ever-increasing heat can have dramatic effects on our mind-body systems. So the key is to not overdue anything—an essential part of Ayurveda is balance. Through all of our senses, we can make observations and use our awareness to understand our individual degree and measurement. In general, activities that help calm and cool the mind and senses, will bring dramatically beneficial effects. Implementing balance is a way of loving yourself and those around you. We have included some great and simple lifestyle tips.
Lifestyle Tips:
- Go for a walk after dinner instead of watching tv.
- Take luke-warm baths with soothing oils of Sandalwood or Rose.
- Clean your surroundings and add ambiance with fresh flowers & natural incense.
- Swim in fresh water! Of course any body of water is a gift from Mother Nature, but we are more vulnerable to dehydration, irritations and burning when we are at the shore.
- Wherever you go, make sure to protect your skin with a proper all-natural sunscreen!, which protects you against UVA and UVB rays (30 SPF), while bestowing healing and nourishing nutrients to your skin.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these blogs is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disease. If you have any serious, acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained doctor/health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic expert, call us or e mail.
Dr Unnati Chavda
https://www.facebook.com/drunnatichavda?ref=hl
www.ayurvedapanchkarma.in
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