Summer Wellness

In Ayurveda, summer is the season of Pitta.  Composed of fire and water, Pitta creates heat, light, radiance, expansion and positive transformation.  But Pitta qualities can also show up as inflammation, hyperacidity, inflammation, rashes, irritation, impatience and even anger.  If you're feeling hot-headed, don't fuel the fire.  Instead, try these tips and recipes to add coolness, calmness, compassion and sweetness to your life.
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Cool off & sweeten up. 
  • Meditate every morning.  Even 5 minutes of meditation every morning will create BIG shifts in your life.  I love the free app Insight Timer.
  • Take it easy.  Don't put unnecessary pressure or time constraints on yourself or others.  Make sure to schedule some downtime every day.  Consider a digital detox, especially if your desire to stay well informed is at odds with your ability to stay chill-axed this summer (click here for the how to).
  • Cool off.  Avoid overexertion & high heat.  Exercise during the cooler part of the day - take an early morning hike, swim at dusk.  Stay hydrated - if plain water isn't your thing, coconut water is wonderful, or try "spa" (infused) water.
  • Lighten up.  Don't take yourself too seriously.  Watch a comedy, crack a joke, laugh a lot.   
  • Practice the cooling breath practice called Sheetali pranayama.

Feed all of your senses with sweetness, coolness & stability. 
  • SIGHT: Wear cooler colors like blues and greens.  Walk slowly along a quiet trail under the natural shade of trees.  Protect your eyes from the glare of the sun with sunglasses or a brimmed hat.  Take a slow walk under the moonlight.  Ideally, lower the lights and turn off all tech (phone, TV, PC) two hours before bedtime.
  • SOUND: Listen to softer and sweeter music and entertainment.  Avoid overly-loud concerts and violent movies.  Leave your TV off & listen to nature instead.  Laugh a lot.
  • SMELL:  Use calming and relaxing essential oils like rose, lavender, chamomile and sandalwood – sniff them, diffuse them, wear them.  Use a neti pot if you are congested or have a sinus headache (neti pot instructions and video).
  • TASTE:  Don't skip meals.  Eat in a peaceful environment.  Favor sweet, bitter and astringent foods and spices like cucumber, celery, lettuce, mint, cilantro and coconut (see recipes below!).  Try to minimize oily and fried food as well as hot spices.  Eat locally grown, in-season produce - seek out your local farmers (check out the Wednesday Farmer's Market and Copper Moose Farms).  Click here for a list of what's growing in your state this time of year.
  • TOUCH:  Lie down in the grass under the shade of a tree (avoid too much sun).  Foam roll and stretch daily.  Take a gentle or restorative yoga class, or try this Pitta-pacifying class.  Book a relaxing spa treatment.  Massage yourself with warm coconut or sunflower oil (Abhyanga article and video).  Take a cool shower.

​Links to recipes that will balance the heat of the summer:
Click here for a list of cooling foods & spices.