Welcome everyone,
I hope you are doing well.
I am Shay,
The creator of Curate Soul.
I'm also a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic yoga specialist and an empowered wisdom yoga nidra facilitator.
It's an honor to be here once again.
I am joining you from Savannah,
GA,
And it's a pleasure to be able to share some Ayurvedic wisdom and rituals with you as we transition into a new season.
So I previously shared a few videos in regards to the seasonal transition into spring or autumn,
Depending on where you were in the world.
And so today I am sharing some information and some Ayurvedic rituals regarding transitioning into summer season for those in the northern hemisphere.
So if you're not in the northern hemisphere,
What you can do for those in the southern hemisphere is refer to the other two videos that I've previously shared as you begin to transition into winter.
You'll want to take a look at the Vata season first,
And then you'll take a look at the Kapha seasonal video as you come into the later half of winter.
So winter is divided.
If you have watched the video,
Just kind of a reminder,
Early winter is still Vata season.
Late winter,
You're entering Kapha season.
So you have two different doses that you'll be working with.
Summer,
However,
Is pretty much predominantly Pitta season.
And before we get too deep into that,
What I'd like to do is offer just another quick and dirty intro to Arya Veda,
Or just a reminder of the five element theory,
The three doshas,
And their energetic nature.
So Ayurveda sees all life and all matter as a combination of the five elements of air,
Space,
Sometimes called ether,
Fire,
Water,
And earth.
These elements then combined to create the three doshas.
Dosha is a Sanskrit word that literally means that which darkens.
And.
Without getting too deep into that,
It's actually a quality that builds dis-ease or illness in the mind and body.
So too much of this particular dosha can create some challenges for us.
But Ayurveda has ways that we can bring back balance into these certain doshas.
So back to the doshas.
Vata dosha is a combination of air and space.
Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water and Kapha dosha is a combination of water and earth.
And so these elements,
Each element has its own kind of qualities,
Energetics,
Characteristics that we look at and take information from.
And so the qualities of this fire element in Pitta especially are hot,
Sharp.
Penetrating liquid,
Mobile and bright.
And so.
These qualities in balance create clarity and discernment.
This vitality in life.
But too much,
Again,
Can create some challenge and some disease.
And so when this fire element is in excess,
We can think about maybe in those instances where we've been sharp with our words or our mind feels very hot with maybe certain thoughts or that we anger easily.
Or maybe physically we are dealing with things like indigestion or acid reflux.
Skin rashes,
Any sort of.
Excess heat to the body.
And so we look at these qualities that are present within nature.
We can also see them within us.
And to balance these qualities,
Especially when they're in excess,
Ayurveda suggests bringing in the opposite qualities.
So what we want to do is begin to bring in some cooling qualities,
Some kind of more stable,
Heavier qualities to balance that sharp,
That hot,
That mobile quality of Pitta.
The doshas are also associated with certain times of the day,
As well as certain seasons of the year and seasons of our life.
And so summer season is Pita Dosha.
That is when fire is dominating nature.
We can think about the sun being closer to the earth,
So it is much warmer outside.
The sun feels more intense.
It's that sharp penetrating quality to the sun that's quite different in summer season.
Northern hemisphere than it would be in the southern hemisphere or excuse me during winter season in the northern hemisphere.
So we can think about that and look at those qualities and we can also think about summertime being kind of this time of lots of maybe travel or vacations or neighborhood barbecues.
So this very expansive quality that tends to keep us quite busy.
We have a lot going on on during the summer season or we want to do a lot.
The days are longer,
There's more daylight,
So we have more kind of time in our day maybe to do things that we are interested in and want to do.
And so we just have to remember that.
As we are in summer season and these tendencies to be more mobile,
To do more things,
To maybe enjoy a little bit too much barbecue or a margarita or two,
That we need to just remain aware of this excess fire that may be created with these choices.
Now,
It's not to say these barbecues are bad or having a margarita is bad.
It's just realizing that we can be adding to this fiery pitta quality and what we want to do is create some balance instead of excess.
And so what I would like to do now is just begin to share with you some ways that we can bring in balance and how I do that is.
Balancing any sort of docic excess through opposite therapy,
As I've been speaking to.
Stabilizing our agni,
Digestive fire,
So our digestive capacity.
Pit to season,
There's sometimes a tendency to digest too quickly,
Or if there's too much fire,
We can digest too quickly.
We also want to look at reducing Alma or toxins,
So not creating any sort of inability to digest,
Not just the food that we're taking in,
But our life and kind of clearing that out.
And as well as building our vitality,
Our Ojas.
And I do that through daily routines.
Yoga or movement practices.
Not everybody does yoga so I like to suggest options for those who don't do yoga asana.
Spiritual or inspirational practices and then lastly food and spices.
And so today we'll start with some daily routine options for creating balance during pitta season.
So these practices that I'm offering will bring in those qualities of cooling,
Grounded,
Spaciousness,
The ability to kind of release some of this excess heat to find pause and find rest.
And to kind of expand our vision where the Pitta tendency or that fire tendency can be to focus very intently on one thing and maybe forget the larger picture.
So back to daily routine,
I highly suggest making time to rest or relax or take it a little slower during pitta hours of the day.
I mentioned that pitta season is summer,
But during the day we also have certain times of the day that are associated with each dosha.
So the hours of 10 a.
M.
To 2 p.
M.
At 10 p.
M.
To 2 a.
M.
Our pizza hour.
So this is where fire is dominating during the hours of the day.
And so if we can find time to maybe take some time to not be so focused on a particular project that we have going or that we take time to kind of rest and relax or tune into our breathing or how that how we're feeling in the moment that we just create a little more space to not create any more fire,
But also maybe release some of this excess fire quality within us.
So especially during the day,
This hour of 10 a.
M.
To 2 p.
M.
,
We think about that this is,
For most of us,
Probably a pretty productive time of day.
The majority of the world,
These are work hours.
This is when we're at work,
Focused on our tasks at hand.
And so being able to just take maybe a five-minute break and just step away and maybe grab something cooling to drink,
A glass of water,
A hibiscus tea,
Something like that,
A little water with lime,
Peppermint tea,
Just something to kind of reduce that fire quality since we are in pitta season and pitta hours of the day.
I mentioned in the previous two videos to start your day with warm water and lemon.
During pitta season,
We can actually change that up.
Stick with the warm water,
But change it to lime.
Lime has a more cooling quality than lemon does,
And so this is really beneficial to start our day with,
Even though the warm water helps start that peristalsis process within,
So our digestive juices start to flow,
Body begins to receive the message that OK,
I'm awake.
I'm going to start receiving nourishment through food and drink,
So I'm preparing my digestive tract.
We can also just let the body know that OK,
Lime has this cooling quality to it.
And it will help create this balance to the fiery aspect of the season.
I also suggest saying no to some commitments if possible,
So not filling up your calendar with event after event.
As I mentioned earlier,
Summer is often the season of neighborhood barbecues,
Community time at like the pool or vacation time,
And certainly do these things that allow you to have fun and play.
But maybe there are some things that you can just step away from or say no to that allows you to keep your schedule a little more free and open.
And time for you to just kind of rest and relax.
No need to keep this calendar full and busy.
The last one for daily routine that I suggest is trying to be in bed or sleep before 10 PM at night.
Again,
That 10 o'clock.
Is that marker where we come into Pitta hours of the day?
And so if we're not asleep before 10 PM or at bed before 10,
Sometimes it can create a challenge to fall asleep after that.
Again,
The mind becomes maybe a little hot with thought and we get real focused on something or we have like this second wind,
This burst of energy and we feel the need to do something.
And so if we fall asleep or were in bed before this 10 PM marker,
Sleep can sometimes come a little bit easier.
So now I'll move to yoga or movement.
Some things to think about adding into your day or your practice movement during coffee hours.
So the hours of 6 AM to 10 AM or 6 PM to 10 PM.
Because this coffee quality is heavy,
It's grounding.
This helps balance that fiery quality that is often associated with any sort of movement,
Exercise,
This intensity that comes.
And so it's a great time to switch,
Especially if you're used to moving during Pitta hours,
Doing a movement practice during your Pitta hours of 10 a.
M.
To 2 p.
M.
See if you can switch that to earlier or later,
Kind of hitting those coffee hours create that balance instead of excess.
For somebody who enjoys yoga,
Practices like yin yoga or restorative yoga are very beneficial during the summer season.
We want to keep a focus on grounding and calming.
Somebody who is pitta dominant in their dosha,
In their constitution,
May find it hard to go into a strictly yin class or strictly restorative class.
There tends to be a need for some sort of challenge.
A vinyasa type of class.
Maybe focus more on a grounding type of vinyasa,
Slower flow,
Moon salutations.
This will help again balance that fiery quality of Pitta season.
Twisting postures,
Heart opening shapes,
And anything that creates space in the side body.
So lateral shapes.
This can be side bending and stretching things like triangle pose,
Side angle.
These are great for helping excess heat leave the body.
The heart opening the back bending again just encourages that pitta tendency of very.
Fine tuned focus to expand and open and see the bigger picture.
Forward folding or excuse me,
Twisting postures again help relieve any sort of excess heat and keep our digestion balanced and stable.
And then my favorite kind of movement practice this time of year,
And I would think a lot of people also feel the same way,
Swimming of some sort or get in some sort of body of water.
And if you don't have access to a body of water,
Whether that be the ocean,
A pool,
A lake,
A stream,
Run yourself a bath,
Soak your feet in some water,
Anything that allows you just to kind of have more of this water quality,
That is grounding and cooling.
Again,
That will help balance this fire quality.
Another favorite practice is spritzing rose water on my face.
This is very cooling as well,
So that's also an option.
Next,
We'll look at spiritual and inspirational practices that you can incorporate this time of year.
So I've mentioned in the previous videos about Abhiyanga,
Full body oil massage.
And the oils that are traditionally used in Vata season are sesame,
And then Kapha season quite often is like olive oil or sunflower oil.
So you can change your oil for summer season,
For Pitta season.
Coconut oil is a beautiful oil to use as coconut is very cooling.
So you can switch your Abhiyanga practice to.
Coconut oil.
Again,
This is full body massage from head to toes.
It most often takes about 20 minutes.
And I suggest having some old towels nearby and you just start at the feet and work your way up.
Circular motions on the joints,
Long sweeping motions on the bones and the longer areas of the body.
And just allowing this oil to rest for about 20 minutes and then taking your shower after.
And what this oil does is it does several different things.
One of the words for oil in Sanskrit is Sneha,
Which also translates to love.
So this is a practice of lovingly anointing your body.
Oil is also removing toxins from the body and the skin is our largest organ,
Our largest sensory organ.
So we're taking in a lot of information constantly whether we're aware of it or not through our skin.
And so oiling this largest organ of our body helps create a grounded,
Nourishing,
Calming effect for our nervous system.
So this practice is incredibly beneficial.
It's one of my favorite practices,
And I do know that it takes a lot of time.
So if you are ever short on time and not able to complete a full Abhyanga practice,
Oiling your hands and feet,
Especially before bed,
Is a beautiful alternative.
Yoga Ninja.
Tracy has a lovely moon nectar practice.
I think it's in the portal.
I'm not exactly sure.
This is a beautiful yoga nidra practice for kind of calming this pitta quality.
So again,
Any sort of rest practice,
Any practice of Pratyahara with drawing the senses and just creating this grounded quality is a beautiful balance to pitta season.
So moon nectar practice from Tracy check that out.
Alternate nostril breathing.
So not a show them and I think Tracy just recently offered a meditation that use this particular technique so you can certainly find an example of that in the ELC.
It's usually traditionally done with a hand mudra blocking one nostril and then the other.
But you can also just visualize alternating the breath through each nostril.
And then my last suggestion for this spiritual or inspirational category is find time to play.
Balance productivity with.
Because again,
This quality of fire when in excess has a tendency to be so strongly focused on one thing so serious that it forgets to have fun.
We forget to have fun and so bringing this aspect of play or fun into whatever we're doing.
Without this need to accomplish or achieve is also very,
Very balancing for pitta dosha and pitta season.
Lastly,
Let's look at food options to bring in foods that will help balance Pitta.
So this time of year we want to favor cooling foods.
This doesn't necessarily mean cold foods.
Honestly,
Our beta doesn't suggest raw or cold foods as they tend to really deplete our digestive capacity and they dampen our acne,
Really weaken the strength of our internal fire that is used to digest everything.
And so when we say cooling foods,
The qualities that bring a cooling aspect,
Most leafy greens are going to be cooling.
Uhm,
Other vegetables are really great for pita dosa and pita season as well,
Especially things like cilantro,
Parsley,
Celery,
Cucumber,
Mint.
We can also look at things like summer squashes.
So we're still cooking our food for the most part.
But if for me,
For instance,
I love salads,
But I know that salads will aggravate my pitta and vata tendencies.
So I have really learned to enjoy my salad at lunchtime.
Because that is when my digestive fire,
When all of our digestive fires are actually at its strongest capacity to be able to digest raw food.
And so if you are one that also likes salads or raw foods,
It's suggested that you kind of keep that around the lunch hour as opposed to the morning or evening meals so that your acne has the strength to process that.
Let's see reducing nightshades during the summer.
Most nightshades create excess fire in the body or increase this fire quality.
Also looking at reducing fermented foods.
Fermented foods are considered a sour taste in Ayurveda,
And the sour taste is a combination of the fire element,
And so that's going to increase the pitta qualities of that fire nature as well.
Kind of reducing or avoiding any sort of fermented foods.
And then I would like to leave you lastly with a little recipe.
One of my favorite beverages this time of year is a herbal tea or tisane.
With hibiscus.
Rose.
Optional mint.
It's a nice little addition and then lime and so for a single serving take about a half teaspoon of hibiscus,
A half teaspoon of dried rose petals.
If you want to add in the mint,
It can be fresh or it can be dried.
If you're using dry,
Use a little less.
It's a little more potent.
And then brew this with about 8 ounces of boiling water and then let it cool to room temperature.
And then squeeze some lime in it.
Again,
Are you made?
It doesn't suggest iced beverages or cold drinks,
And so I offer,
You know,
Instead of drinking this warm,
Which you can,
And it's incredibly delicious as well.
If you prefer not to have a hot beverage during the summer months,
The warmer months,
You can certainly allow it to cool to room temperature once it's at room temperature.
If you're still kind of hesitant,
You can add just like one or two ice cubes to chill.
Slightly,
But if you can kind of avoid iced drinks.
And then you can,
Of course,
Make a larger version of this.
And if anybody is interested in that,
Certainly just leave a comment and I'll give you and share a recipe for like a pitcher of this herbal tea.
So a lot of practices,
A lot of rituals offered that you can use.
What I suggest is just picking one or two to begin with and work with these.
For a 40 day period and just kind of begin to notice.
How it may affect your digestion,
Your sleep,
Your mood,
Your energy levels.
And then from there you can begin to add in maybe an additional practice.
Or if this practice doesn't really feel supportive to you,
You're always welcome to change and maybe pick up a different practice.
And so this just gives our nervous system,
Our body,
Our brain time to acclimate to the shifts that may be happening.
And then we can begin to notice how these practices are supportive and nourishing us,
Or if they may need to be changed and adapted to something else that may be more supportive.
So again,
Just starting with one practice,
Take about 40 days to work with that,
And then adding other practices if you like from there.
So thank you all again for this opportunity to share this beautiful wisdom of Ayurveda,
These practices to help create balance and vitality.
I hope you found it helpful and I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thank you all so much.
