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We are well into the swing of summer and the busy energy may be burning you like a fire, or shall we say Agni, into burnout.
Let us help you cool the flame that is generated in Pitta season, and find some balance in the hot, wet, and wild nature of summer. In Ayurveda, summer is known as the season ruled by the Pitta dosha. Pitta season is characterized by the elements of both fire AND water. When these elements combine, you get humidity.
The descriptive qualities of Pitta include hot, sharp, oily, liquid, light, spreading and sour.
Some may experience imbalances during this season that will show up in the body as anger and agitation, low digestive fire, sour stomach, and skin irritations. Therefore to counteract the potential imbalances during the Pitta season, it is recommended to avoid heating foods including coffee, meat, heavily spiced and fried food, and alcohol.
It is best to favor sweet, bitter and astringent foods that are lightly cooked, raw and/or simply spiced, fresh vegetables and cooked grains, juicy sweet fruits, fresh leafy greens and water dense veggies.
Try using coconut oil in favor of more heating oils such as sesame for both cooking and massage. Restorative or light yoga or swimming are great cooling practices that increase digestive strength without overheating. Since Pitta can also be characterized by burnout, excess energy, and aggression, it is best to find balance during this season by paying attention to moderation and rest. As the days are longer and the sun is burning bright and hot for longer, it can be tempting to keep going and going. And so it is wise to find moments of rest and recuperation throughout your day.
Below are a few great practices to incorporate into your daily rhythm:
- Meditation
- Taking breaks before, after, and in between activities
- Regular rest
- Keeping cool
- Focusing on beauty
- Creating small self-care rituals or routines that can be easily accomplished each day
The following are examples of micro-rituals that can easily be added to enhance your day and help cool and calm you in the Pitta season.
Add a cooling chai to your morning.
As an alternative to coffee, which has a pungent quality and is heating, this delicious cooling chai from The Sacred Window Shop, which can be added to your morning ritual. Rose and fennel are blended in to balance the heat of the black tea and spices. Try it with some ice for an added cooling effect if you live in hotter regions.
An abhyanga a day keeps the Pitta imbalance away!
If you do not already have a self abhyanga practice (self-massage with oil), it really is life-changing. It’s often associated with cold weather, but don’t need to stop during summer. Try bringing this divine cooling body oil infused with rose quartz, pearl,
and passionflower or this massage oil with Shatavari into your abhyanga practice. It is the perfect daily ritual to stay balanced and cool during the Pitta season. This soothing body oil is also wonderful for those who suffer from psoriasis or eczema during the summer months.
Before bed, rejuvenate with face cream.
Take a moment to slow down after a long day and practice self-care as meditation. Look at yourself in the mirror and really appreciate yourself as you massage your face and skin with this cooling, rose petal-infused face cream.
Incorporate cooling spices and oils into your meal preparation!
During the summer months, it is best to cook with oil that is more cooling, such as coconut oil or a cooling herb-infused ghee, like this one is also a great addition for your cooking needs. It is also a great idea to add a spice blend that is more suitable for the summer months to your repertoire of spices. Sticking to the warming and heating spices could aggravate your Pitta. This Bija spice blend is specifically formulated for its cooling nature and includes
coriander, fennel, coconut, peppermint, lemongrass.
Roses are red and are cooling too.
Consider adding cooling vegetables, fruits, and herbs to your diet. Rose petals are a perfect partner for the Pitta season. You can drink rose petal tea or even add fresh or dried rose to your bath with this herbal bath blend. Try this delicious rose petal jam and enjoy it in the morning on your favorite toast, or as a snack in between meals with some crackers. Rose is a high vibration flower, and eating this jam will soothe the heart and balance emotions.
Even though summer is a time where routine can more often be disrupted due to travel, vacation, and changing school or work schedules, micro-rituals can be a powerful way to incorporate a restful and meditative practice throughout your day to balance Pitta dosha and stay in balance with nature all season long.
Sources:
https://chopra.com/articles/pitta-self-care-take-time-to-rest
Alysha Higgins
Birth worker, Body worker, Movement Artist
Alysha is a mama of two, birthworker, movement artist, and bodyworker apprenticing as a lomi lomi practitioner in Maui, HI. A native to Los Angeles with Indo-Caribbean/Irish roots, she is currently completing work-study and training with the Center for Sacred Window Studies in order to better provide culturally centered postpartum care to her family in Trinidad and Tobago.
Conscious Postpartum Caregiver Program
Inspired by Ayurvedic Principles
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