Keep Your Cool
Jess shares some Ayurvedic tips to help you beat the heat this summer.
It feels like summer has finally arrived and I, for one, am loving it! The moment the sun comes out everyone has something to say about it. It really is a hot (not pun intended) topic of conversation with varying views and how it makes us all feel. Spurred on by the opening of Shoots, this got me thinking about Ayurveda and doshas.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that focuses on creating balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit. One of the fundamental concepts of Ayurveda are the doshas; three energy forces that govern the body and mind. These doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and they are each associated with different physical and mental characteristics;
Vata – dosha of air and space (ether) elements
Pitta – dosha of the fire and water elements
Kapha – dosha of water and earth elements
The three doshas are naturally dynamic, which means that they constantly respond to changes in your life. The biggest changes occur seasonally, and summer is the season when Pitta dosha is strongly affected, because heat and humidity are two qualities that summer shares with Pitta, which is warm and moist.
The warm weather and the long days tempt us to do as much as possible but it can be exhausting. Many of us find the hot weather and high temperatures hard work as it can leave us feeling exhausted, irritable and, if you’re like me, unsure of what to eat. Now, this is by no means gospel. The Yoga/ Ayurveda police will not hunt you down and are by no means less “yogic” if you do not do any of these things, however, here is some food for thought (pun intended)…
Try eating breakfast and lunch before 11am (before the hottest part of the day) and a light dinner.
Stay hydrated!
Avoid hot, spicy, and salty foods as they increase the pitta dosha (red wine and red meat are also very heating for the summer).
Try eating sweet, bitter, and astringent foods (milk, yoghurt, ghee, cucumber, apples, pears, melon, watermelon, fresh cilantro, asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, and basmati rice).
Change up your yoga practice. Forward bends are inherently calming to the nervous system and cooling to the body’s core temperature.
Like I said, this is by no means gospel, but variety is the spice of life - just not too much spice!
- Written by Jess Sewell