Summer according to Ayurveda
Lunar energy is cooling in nature
In Ayurveda and yoga lunar energy is associated with the feminine, more cooling in nature, in the hotter summer months we want to balance that pitta heat with practices that are more cooling in nature.
Healthy Living Tips for Grishma Ritu (Summer)
Carving out time for your new practices at the start of each season is vital to creating new patterns in your life. If you set aside an hour at the start of the Grishma Ritu season to write down what new morning routines you will add into your day, what new foods and recipes you want to incorporate at this season that will help you successfully start to make the seasonal shifts.
Living a cyclical lifestyle is one we can observe in the moon each night, the menstrual cycle (if applicable to you) and through the 6 Ayurvedic seasons where you live. Life becomes a bit more fluid and fun when you have routines in place but knowing those routines will slightly shift each season which makes the vata dosha excited for change but also stay grounded throughout the process.
If you’re looking at adding in the above practices into your routine I would start by shifting your morning routine to reflect moon salutations to keep the lunar energy side of yourself balanced at this season. You might incorporate shitali pranayama, followed by trataka and a meditation.
To your evening routine you might add in the evening yoga sequence listed above aim to add that into your routine 3-5 times a week. Next map out what day of the week you want to practice moon bathing. This can be done every night or once a week to reflect on each lunar phase. You can also add in the sandalwood and turmeric facial as you moon bath outside to create two habits into one routine. Finally you might have one day a month or one day a week depending on your schedule of the 5 senses nature walk or find a local forest bathing meet-up near you.
Ayurvedic Summer Practices to try
- Enjoy cooling foods- cucumbers, fresh fruit by itself, seasonal vegetables
- Dressing in lighter clothes that are cooling in nature
- Go to bed by 10/11pm
- Stay out of the hot summer sun
- Wash your feet and massage them with brahmi oil - Brahmi is calming for the mind, good for circulation, memory enhancing
- Moon bathing
- Moon salutations
- Rosewater spritz on the face
- Avoid exercising in the hot summer sun during the 10-2pm hours.
End of the Season Notes
Grishma Ritu is the summer season in Ayurveda, which in India it runs from Mid-May-Mid-July. Remembering those dates might not reflect your own summer months so adjust these practices to fit your climate will be key. At this time of the year the vata dosha is building, and the kapha dosha is lowering. We are also mindful not to overheat or overwork ourselves as that will stoke the pitta dosha as well.
Key Takeaways
- Avoiding intense activities during the 10am-2pm hours will help you stay in balance.
- Taking walks around the peak sun hours will help the body from overheating.
- Sandalwood paste is a cooling to the pitta dosha and is an anti-inflammatory herb to work with.
- Emphasizing lunar practices in the summer months to reduce pitta and vata accumulation in the mind and body
Weekly Challenge:
What is one practice you want to incorporate into your summer routines that will help you achieve your personal summer goal(s)?
Sacred Seasons
Explore the sacred feminine through an Ayurvedic lens to live a cyclical life you love.
Embrace the lunar wisdom this summer months according to Ayurveda.
The pitta transformation starts June 3rd!
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