We all know what happens in the summer when kids are off school and the days are just longer. Often summertime consists of travel and road trips, summer get-togethers, irregular work schedules, BBQs, beer and, rosé. Especially, as our schedules are opening up with COVID restrictions being lifted, most of us are so excited to take off the masks and connect with friends and family again.

Summer is meant to be fun!!!

I love the feeling of "letting things go" a bit, being more fluid in my scheduling and spending more time with my kids, family and friends. The markets are overflowing with gorgeous, fresh, seasonal produce, the beach is usually a regular destination (even with a mask) and often my social calendar tends to take priority over my work calendar.

With the fluidity and lack of structure in many of our summer schedules, it can be an easy time to relax self-care, goals and healthy routines with the excuse of "picking it back up in September.”

Ayurveda (the 5,000-year-old mother science to Yoga), teaches us ways to manage this time of the year with a little more ease, intentionality, and grace, while still taking the best care of ourselves.

A FEW WAYS TO NAVIGATE SUMMER WITH AYURVEDA.

Ayurveda means the "knowledge of life," or the “science of living”. Its primary focus is the prevention of illness. Ayurveda is a wellness system that focuses on daily and seasonal habits for nourishment, optimal rest, better energy, body movement, meditation, stress reduction and more graceful/healthy aging. Ayurveda is ALL about living in a way that optimizes how GOOD you feel about living.

One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is that our habits, routines, and dietary choices should ebb and flow with the seasons. We can support an improved state of balance throughout the year by making a conscious effort to live in harmony with the cycles of nature and by regularly adjusting our lifestyle and habits to accommodate the arrival of each new season. While this idea may at first seem daunting, many people find that the recommended seasonal adjustments come quite naturally and that a few simple changes can dramatically increase health and vitality. 

In Ayurveda, it is said that like increases like and that opposites balance; this helps to explain why summertime stirs something different in each of us. If you know your constitution, you can take even more personalized steps to harmonize your internal landscape with the changing nature of the seasons.
 

Summer & Ayurveda

As a student of Ayurveda, I'm learning the impact each season has on every one of us, as each season has very particular characteristics. Summer (Pitta Season in Ayurveda) is characterized by heat, long days of bright sun and the sharp intensity and transformative nature of the season. In contrast, Winter (Kapha season in Ayurveda) is characterized by cold weather, a sense of heaviness, increased moisture (usually in the form of rain or snow), cloud-covered days and the grounded, slow feeling that sends many animals into hibernation. Even though some climates are exceptionally humid in the summer, the cumulative effect of intense heat is to dry things out, so summer is also considered dry. 

CREATE A HEALTHY SUMMER SEASONAL ROUTINE

So....establishing a summer routine that is aimed at developing and nurturing diet and lifestyle habits that will help prevent the over-accumulation of summer qualities, will allow you to enjoy the unique gifts that summertime has to offer.

A few recommendations for enjoying an easeful summer and to keep Pitta balanced are to stay cool and hydrated, plus balance intensity with relaxation. Summer can be very ungrounding with so much going on. Make sure to keep energy grounded by finding balance within your schedule with quiet, restful and, cooling activities.  

Summer Diet Tips

During the summer, our bodies naturally crave light foods and small meals that are easy to digest. This is because the digestive fire, which is a strong source of internal heat, disperses to help keep us cool. Take time to enjoy your meals, relax and don’t rush. Cultivating a sense of calm and ease around meal times will help you to avoid over-eating and adding intensity to an already intense season.

Summer is a time to favor the sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes and to relish in cool, liquid, even slightly oily foods. This is the best time of year to enjoy fresh fruits and salads. It also is a great time to indulge in sweet dairy products such as milk, butter, ghee, cottage cheese, fresh homemade yogurt and, even on occasion, ice cream. All unrefined sweeteners, except honey and molasses, are cooling and can be enjoyed in moderation during the summer months.

The best beverages to beat the heat and enjoy cool or room temperature would be water infused with mint, cucumber or lime and a little raw sugar. Cooling herbal teas such as peppermint, licorice, fennel or rose are some my favorites. Iced drinks are best avoided because they disturb the digestive fire and create toxins in the body.

Take it easy on sour or unripe fruits, aged cheeses, and heating vegetables and spices such as onions, garlic, ginger and mustard seeds. Try to avoid extremely spicy foods like chilies or cayenne pepper altogether. Also, keep in mind that raw vegetables (as in salads) will be better digested if they are eaten at lunch, rather than at dinner.

Summer exercise

As for exercise in the summer, this is a time when we want to be physical and outdoors. Just be sure to exercise at appropriate times and at an appropriate intensity (50-70% of your usual energy level). Exercise is very heating and, at this time of year, is best avoided during the heat of the day, especially between 10 am and 2 pm. Instead, exercising early in the morning when the atmosphere is crisp and cool is best, safer, and in my opinion, much more enjoyable. It’s also important not to push too hard. Ideally, exercise at about 50–70% of your capacity, breathing through your nose the entire time, if you can.