Keep Calm, Cool, and Joyful this Summer
Every year at this time I dream of being by the ocean to escape the summer heat. Waking up early and practicing yoga on the beach, matching my breath to the rhythm of the waves...in...out...just mentally transporting myself to this place calms me down. Well if I can't physically be by the ocean I can be with the sound of the ocean with my breath....breathing in I calm my body, breathing out I smile.
Pitta Dosha Balancing Act
Pitta is one of the three doshas or biological energies found in the body and mind and derives from the elements of fire and water. During the summer, pitta can accumulate as inflammation in the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and small intestines. The key to pacifying pitta is to remain cool, calm, and peaceful. When pitta is in balance, your digestion and metabolism is strong and you feel passionate, joyful, and courageous. When it’s out of balance, you might arouse aggression, irritability, anger, hatred, judgment, criticism, and jealousy.
Tips for Pacifying Pitta
Here are some practical suggestions for balancing the pitta person during the seasonal changes that occur in summer and early fall:
Upon awakening, do some yoga asanas, including the Moon Salutation, Tree, Boat, Bow, Bridge, Locust, Triangle and all abdominal twists. The emphasis throughout your practice can be on surrendering, forgiving, softening and being gentle with yourself.
Practice cooling pranayama after your asanas. Either Shitali pranayama or left-nostril breathing will cool and calm the hot quality of pitta dosha. Be sure to release any remaining internal heat from within the body before meditation.
Follow your breathing exercises with some peaceful meditation. A regular meditation practice assists in quieting the active pitta mind, releasing anger and allowing the sense of control to dissipate. Meditation should leave one feeling cool and calm in both mind and heart.
Give yourself a slow and loving full body massage before taking a shower. As a base, use sunflower or coconut oil, which are cooling and nourishing. Essential oils of rose, sandalwood, jasmine or lavender can be added to further enhance delight and healing.
Drink a tea of cumin, coriander, fennel and rose to pacify the hot quality, improve digestion and calm the mind.
Wear clothing of light texture and color. Excellent choices would be cotton, linen and silk of white, blue and green. Red and yellow shades tend to increase the fire that is already present.
Eat foods that are cooling and calming, sweet, bitter and astringent. Coconut, cucumber, watermelon, steamed greens, mung beans and basmati rice are excellent choices. Sipping cool (not iced) water throughout the day keeps pittas fires at bay. When the hot and sharp qualities are acute it is best to avoid spicy, salty, oily and sour foods such as chilis, pickles, french fries and citrus fruits respectively. Due to pitta’s raging appetite, it is in their best interest that they never miss a meal!
Enjoy regular, relaxing, peaceful walks in Nature to calm the inherent intensity that a pitta person may experience. Other activities to please pittas senses include swimming, gardening and walking in the moonlight.
