Summer solstice is right around the corner. On Thursday, June 20, 2024 at exactly 1:50 PM Pacific time, the sun will be at its highest point on the longest day of the year.
This affects observable changes in our ecosystems and our bodies. It’s Summertime!
It’s perceived as mystical and existential – any yet, can be explained by scientific and astronomical data. The solstice signifies time of change and is celebrated by humanity across the globe. In the pueblo communities in the Southwest, celebrations and ceremonies are alive and unfurling with the longest day. In India, it‘s believed that the first yogi, Adiyogi, met disciples on the summer solstice. It’s a great time to do sun salutations! In many parts of India, people partake in mass yoga sessions. As pictured, Poznań, Poland celebrates the solstice with a Lantern Festival.
The advent of Summer means longer, warmer days, enlivening pitta dosha. Ayurveda aids in providing a system to achieve balance. Embrace the hot, sharp, bright and active season season by creating cool, dull, dark, and calm characteristics in your life through diet and lifestyle.
Eat cool…
- Watermelon, fig, apricot, peaches, grapes, blueberries
- Sweet, ripe and juicy, not sour or green
- Lettuce asparagus, green beans, okra, zucchini, cucumber
- Cool, hydrated, soothing and anti-inflammatory
- This is the best time to consume raw veggies, which Ayurveda usually doesn’t recommend, but don’t over do it. If you like salads, mix in sautéed and warm salads with coconut oil and summer vegetable melody
- Avoid spicy, fried, and oily foods!
- Buy local – this is the easiest way to follow nature’s built-in seasonal balancing affects
Drink water…
- Stay hydrated. Our bodies cool after consuming hot or warm water, and are more swiftly hydrated. Don’t drink iced water.
- Add lime to your water if you’d like a little flavor
- Try cooling herbal teas like coriander/cilantro, mint, lavender, rose
- Sip and soak your feet in cool water after a hot day
Don’t worry, be happy…
- Cool with cooling breath: breath in through teeth, exhale through curled tongue
- Take extra time to relax
- Rest more. take it easy! To balance the hyper active pitta energy, reduce activity.
- Avoid extreme weather
- Keep up exercise, but not in the middle of the day. Enjoy your most rigorous summer activity in early morning and evening
- Cover with light long sleeves, sun hats and glasses
This as a good time for Panchakarma. If you’re interested in learning more about this fivefold Ayurvedic detoxification process, schedule massage with Annabelle at our clinic. It’s incredible to observe the detoxifying effects of abhyanga and other Ayurvedic massage.
When we eat seasonally, it helps us steer clear of common issues that arise with seasonal changes. The human body has natural intelligence to crave foods and flavors we need to establish balance.
Common Pitta ailments to prevent in Summertime:
- Skin disorders like rash and eczema, even mosquito bites and sunburns
- Ease with cooling foods, gentle routine, extra rest, and hydration
- Hyperacidity, loose stools, inflammatory conditions
- Ease with herbal teas, regular exercise, lowering acidic intake of foods, and meditation, especially slow, deep breath work for increasing circulation
- Mental imbalances: anger, irritation, frustration and impatience
- Ease with regular meal times, daily meditation, planning extra time for rest, cooling transitions (like cool foot bath) between activities, support releasing anger or frustration with regular exercise, singing and ujjayi breath. Review nonviolent communication practices and incorporate mindfulness at regular intervals in the day with a timer on your phone
We associate Pitta dosha with strong agni, meaning good digestion. Ironically, the heat of Pitta season can lead to reduced appetite, weak digestion, fatigue. This is a classic example for why we need to introduce OPPOSITES when balancing doshas. Pittas especially need to stay cool this season — maybe an excuse to plan a little less, relax a little more. This is the season for vacation, anyway!
References
usatoday.com
thesynergycompany.com
svasthaayurveda.com
5/19/24
