Summer Self-Care: Cooling the Inner Fire
Summer brings the energy of Pitta dosha—hot, sharp, and intense. It’s a season of outward activity, bright sunshine, and fiery transformation. But when Pitta becomes imbalanced, we might feel overheated, irritable, or exhausted. That’s where the ancient sister sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga step in to guide us back to balance, coolness, and calm.
Here’s a juicy, soul-nourishing summer self-care guide infused with Ayurvedic wisdom and yogic practices to keep your inner flame glowing—not blazing.
Ayurvedic Lifestyle Tips for Summer
1. Stay Cool (Literally & Energetically):
- Favor cool, hydrating foods: Think cucumbers, watermelon, coconut water, mint, and fresh greens.
- Eat meals at regular times to keep digestion balanced, ideally lighter lunches and cooling dinners.
- Avoid spicy, fried, or overly salty foods that aggravate Pitta.
2. Wake with the Sun:
- Summer is a great time to wake early—before sunrise if possible, when the air is still cool and sattvic.
- Start your day with a gentle morning routine: tongue scraping, cool showers, and a short self-massage (abhyanga) with coconut oil, which is cooling and soothing.
- Give yourself 15-min or more for a soothing, slow flow practice (check out the digital options on our ap or join me in the in studio (virtual or live!) for Inspired Mornings practice at 7am! EST)
3. Dress for the Dosha:
- Wear loose, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen in calming colors—white, sky blue, light green.
- Avoid too much direct sun exposure—seek shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and flow with nature’s rhythm.
Cooling Yoga Asana (posture) Practice
Pitta needs softness, surrender, and grounding. Avoid intense heat-building flows or hot yoga in the peak of summer. Practice with ease, using long exhales and cooling breaths. Think lunar, not solar.
- Forward folds: Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold), Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide-Leg Forward Fold)
- Hip openers: Baddha Konasana (Butterfly), Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon)
- Twists: Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated Twist) to support digestion
- Restorative poses: Supta Baddha Konasana, Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall)
Pranayama (breath practice) for Cooling & Calming
Skip the heating pranayams like Kapalabhati or Bhastrika during this season. Instead, try:
1. Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath):
- Curl your tongue like a straw and inhale through the mouth. Exhale through the nose.
- Repeat for 10 rounds. Great for reducing heat and calming the mind.
2. Chandra Bhedana (Left Nostril Breathing):
- Inhale through the left nostril, exhale through the right.
- This activates the lunar (cooling) energy.
3. Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing):
- Balances both hemispheres and calms the nervous system.
- Especially supportive before sleep or during moments of high heat or emotion.
Summer Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation Themes for Summer:
- Compassion and Kindness (cools the fire of judgment)
- Loving-Kindness (Metta) practices
- Visualizations of cool lakes, moonlight, or soft rain
Try this: Moonlight Meditation
- Sit comfortably at dusk.
- Visualize a gentle moon shining above you, pouring down silvery, cool light.
- Breathe deeply, letting that light soothe your heart, mind, and body.
Rituals & Rhythms for the Soul
Evening Wind-Down Ritual:
- Sip cool herbal teas like hibiscus, rose, or chamomile.
- Journal about something you’re grateful for each day.
- Take a walk during twilight or gaze at the moon—connect to lunar energy.
Mantra for Summer:
- “Sham” (pronounced “shum”) – a soothing bija mantra for peace and calm.
- Chanting it gently for a few minutes can bring a deep sense of inner cooling.
Summer Self-Care Reminders
- Hydrate. Rest. Slow down.
- Practice ahimsa (non-harming) toward yourself by not over-committing or overheating.
- Remember, summer is not just for doing, or doing more—practice summer as an invitation for just being.
Let this summer be a season of graceful flow, not force. Through Ayurveda and Yoga, we learn to harmonize with nature—not just outside, but within. May your days be filled with laughter, lightness, and loving awareness.
Stay cool, be kind, and connect to your breath.
