How to Stay Cool During Pitta Season
Welcome to July,
my sweet friends.
I hope you all are enjoying your summer thus far. The monsoons have hit Phoenix and we are in full swing Pitta season. The heat of summer combined with the humidity of the monsoon can take its toll on our mind and body. Luckily, we have the wisdom of Ayurveda to help us stay cool, calm and collected.
If you feel hot under the collar and your internal and external temperature rising please, implement these tried and true tips for reducing excess fire this season. Ayurveda teaches like increases like and opposites decrease. If a person is overheated, then we don't want to put more fuel on that fire. Instead, increase the amount of cool you have in your life.
As you can see from the photo, I went to be with some glaciers. That was refreshing for the time being, but I cannot stay there all summer. So now that I am back I need to be mindful to eat more cooling foods. Notice I did not say cold foods but rather foods that will cool you down. Sweet juicy seasonal fruits, grains, summer squash, leafy greens and sweet dairy are all cooling. Eating the taste profiles of sweet, astringent and bitter will help to keep you cool this summer. That would also mean steering clear of salty, hot, spicy, fried and oily foods. So, when you go out for Thai food and the server asks how spicy don't go higher than a 2. As always, never iced drinks. Room temp or cool beverages only. You’re in luck! Keep reading - there is a great recipe below.
Two proven cooling pranayama techniques are Sitali and Sitkari. These are both done by inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nose. To do Sitali, sit in a comfortable position, make an O shape with your mouth, and curl the tongue lengthwise. Then, as B.K.S. Iyengar instructs in Light on Pranayama, "draw in air...as if drinking with a straw and fill the lungs completely." Withdraw the tongue, close the mouth, and hold the breath for five to 10 seconds. Exhale through the nose. If you can't curl your tongue, try Sitkari, which is like Sitali except that the tongue is kept flat. Part the lips and allow the tip of the tongue to protrude slightly. Practice gently and without intensity early or late in the day, when the air is cool.
How you cover and surround yourself will have a big effect on your aura. Wear lightweight clothing, cotton and linen are smart choices. Choose colors that are light to help reflect the heat of the sun. Use cooling aromatherapy in the form of incense or oils. Lavender, rose, sandalwood, jasmine or vetiver are all good for Pitta season. Massaging your body with coconut oil before you shower will help to keep you cool.
Finally, devotion is the deepest sweetness there is. Fill your heart and mind with a sense of devotion and gratitude. This will go a long way toward helping your summer flow with grace.