Happy Summer Solstice! Do you love this time of year or dread the heat? The sun is the source of all life as its heat and light provide the energy for plants to grow so we have food to eat. Since ancient times, yogis have offered gratitude for the sun’s life-giving qualities, through sun salutations, surya namaskar, and even singing or chanting the Gayatri mantra. Yoga’s sister science of life, Ayurveda, considers the heat of summer the Pitta time of year and offers suggestions to help keep you cool and make the most of the long, leisurely, sunny days ahead. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Stay hydrated – the extra heat of the summer dries up the plants and things in nature, as well as our own bodies. It is extra important to drink plenty of water, the measure is to drink half your body’s weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds then drink 70 ounces of water per day. Add a little splash of lime for its extra cooling properties.
Enjoy cooling foods – cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, asparagus, avocado, coconut, cilantro, blueberries, parsley, lettuces, alfalfa sprouts. The foods that are in plenty this time of year are great food choices for summer. They help to cool the body from the inside.
Avoid extra spicy foods as they can have a heating effect on the body and lead to Pitta-type imbalances such as acid indigestion, skin rashes, and inflammation.
Exercise in the morning to enjoy the relative coolness of the morning sun while avoiding the more extreme midday heat. Swimming or other water sports are a great way to keep cool.
Apply a few drops of essential oil such as jasmine, rose, or sandalwood to the point between the eyebrows to encourage a calm mind and nervous system. The throat and the navel are other places that can get overheated, so a few drops there can be helpful too.
Try turning off all electronics an hour before bedtime and enjoy reading an actual physical book or stargazing. This is a great way to settle busy, overheated thoughts and prepare yourself for a sound sleep.
And of course, cooling yoga poses can help combat the heat of summer. Try a forward bending pose slowly and with full breaths, keeping a long spine as you hinge from your hips. Or, legs up the wall pose is a great one to practice anytime of day for its calming, cooling effects.
See you on the mat!
Warmly (but not too hot),
Kelly