It’s summertime! How do you plan to savor and celebrate the season? For many, this means vacations, water-based activities, and more time outdoors with family and friends, enjoying longer, brighter and hotter days.
According to Ayurveda, every season is governed by a unique element, and summer as you may have guessed is associated with fire. It’s the subtle energy that controls metabolism and can cause you to overheat when it’s hot outside. You may find yourself or those around you a bit more fiery than usual during this time of year.
Do you notice that during summer, your body naturally wants lighter foods and smaller meals? Easy to digest foods are great in the summer because your digestive fire, which is a strong source of internal heat, disperses to help keep you cool.
This is the best time of year to enjoy fresh fruits and salads. Garnish them and other dishes with cooling herbs such as mint, cilantro and fresh basil. It’s also the perfect time to indulge in some sweet dairy products such as milk, butter, ghee, cottage cheese, fresh homemade yogurt, and even ice cream on occasion.
Put down the hot sauce though and avoid spicy, salty, pungent and sour foods. You may even notice that you are not drawn to these tastes which means you are responding intuitively to the seasons. These tastes will only aggravate an already fiery nature. Instead, favor more sweet, bitter and astringent tastes.
You may also want to reduce the intensity of your activities and allow for more relaxation. Skip the hot yoga class and go for a swim instead, which is more effective at soothing the summer heat. Watersports, watching the sunrise and/or sunset, as well as an occasional moonlit walk are all great activities during the summer months.
Summer is ideal for spending time in nature and enjoying the outdoors, however, when you do go out, be sure to avoid overexposure to the sun, especially from 10AM – 2PM, during the hottest part of the day. Stay in the shade and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself. Exercise early in the morning, when the air is crisp and cool. If you feel an afternoon dip in energy, a short nap may be beneficial. Be sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids as well.
The summer brings an abundance of sweet-smelling flowers like rose, jasmine and honeysuckle. Place fresh cut flowers in your home and office for a whiff of sweetness and give yourself a nice spritz with some cooling and refreshing rose water. You can also diffuse sweet and relaxing aromas like lavender, chamomile, geranium, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang essential oils to stay cool and centered this summer.
Does work take priority for you? Don’t overdo it! It’s important not to push too hard in the heat. Give yourself plenty of time to meet your deadlines and avoid over-scheduling and working long hours. This is the time of year to emphasize more play, lightness, and fun. Take time to smell the roses. Go on vacations and enjoy more leisure activities.
By making the effort to live in harmony with the cycles of nature and adjusting your lifestyle and habits to accommodate the arrival of each new season, you can support an improved state of balance throughout the year.
What are you doing to stay cool?