In Ayurveda, the summer season corresponds to Pitta dosha and it is characterized by the heat of transformation. You can see it in nature throughout the growing season: the seeds planted in spring are transformed into the fruits of harvest. With the arrival of this new season it’s time to make some changes to our diets and yoga practices so that we can keep our cool. Read on for your Summer Yoga and Ayurveda tips!
Summer Yoga and Ayurveda Tips
Summer Ayurveda Tips
In the summertime it is important to balance the heat of the season with foods that are naturally sweet, bitter, or astringent. Luckily, mother nature provides us with exactly those foods in the summer growing season. All you have to do is look at what is abundant in the farmers market and eat tons of those foods!
Foods to Favor in Summer
- Leafy greens like swiss chard, kale, collards, dandelion greens
- Broccoli, cauliflower
- Zucchini, summer squash
- Cucumbers, bell peppers
- Quinoa, barley, rice
- Lentils, beans
- Ghee, coconut oil
- Berries, stone fruit & melons
- Cilantro, coriander
- Mint or hibiscus teas
There are certain foods that should be reduced or avoided during the summertime. These are foods that build heat in the body and contain the tastes of sour, salty and pungent (aka spicy). Consuming them without moderation is like throwing fuel on the fire!
Foods to Reduce in Summer
- Spicy foods like chili peppers
- Salty foods like salt, soy sauce, or miso
- Sour foods like pickles, yogurt, or sour cream
- Lemons
- Beef, pork, or dark meat poultry
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
Summer Yoga Tips
Just like the foods that we eat can add fuel to the fire so can our yoga practices. Thus, it might be best for you to to avoid heated power flow classes! Summertime on the yoga mat is for practices that are more gentle, calming and cooling in nature. If possible practice in the coolest parts of the day – early morning or evening.
Yoga Poses to Favor in Summer
- Twists like lunging twist, revolved side angle, revolved triangle, reclining twist
- Side stretches like seated side stretch, extended side angle, gate
- Forward folds like wide-legged forward fold, pyramid, seated forward fold
- Restorative poses like reclining bound angle, legs up the wall
To finish your yoga practice rest in a savasana that takes up a lot of space! Think about taking the shape of a star fish so that there is lots of room for your skin to do one of its primary jobs – dissipate heat. And don’t be shy about spending some extra time in relaxation. Oftentimes summer becomes a go, go, go season where we try to get in ALL the activities while the weather is divine but that can lead to burnout so remember to rest!
