Nature is our guide in Ayurveda. We look at how nature changes with the daily and seasonal weather patterns, daylight, and nighttime to see how we can best support ourselves physically and mentally/ emotionally to stay in good health.
Ayurveda believes our disconnect from nature causes diseases and imbalances in ourselves.
Our lives and environments are ever-changing and to keep yourself in balance it helps to look at the seasonal changes to know how to adapt.
Read all about the month of June to stay in good health!
P.S. This blog is based on Ontario, Canada weather.
June is the official start of summer! How exciting! The warm weather is fully here and we can get ready for a fun summer. This is the time when pitta moves into the season. Any time a season changes it is recommended to reevaluate your diet and lifestyle and see if you need to make any adaptations according to your dosha or any imbalances that you are working with.
The beginning of summer is a time of higher temperatures and humidity. Pitta is both the fire and water element. It is a wonderful time for vatas who can benefit from these elements to balance their cold and dry qualities.
Pittas and kaphas both need to take some measures to stay in balance during the first part of summer.
"June is the official start of summer! How exciting!"
The Weather
June is the last end of the humidity in the air, and temperatures are seriously rising. June 21st marks the start of the summer season.
This means the sun rises early and sets late. Long days of summer fun await us! This is the time when it is easier to get up early for most of us. The sun welcomes us to the day and the pleasant temperatures improve our moods drastically.
Sun exposure is important for our health. We absorb Vitamin D from the sun into our skin and this is a vital part of having good energy, healthy bones, and many other important functions in the body. Vitamin D is best absorbed by having larger parts of the skin in the sun for periods of time. Being outdoors as much as you can, will be incredibly helpful for this. Obviously, be mindful with sunbathing and follow set guidelines to do so.
Pittas skin tends to turn red easily and burn. They tend to be familiar with skin issues like rashes, eczema, or other bumps and patches. Vatas skin is often darker and tans easily. Kaphas skin is smooth, soft, and thick and has a naturally beautiful glow.
"Summer is the time when it is easier to get up early for most of us. The sun welcomes us to the day and the pleasant temperatures improve our moods drastically."
The Three Doshas in June
Vata
Vata is happy. The air is still humid and the temperatures are rising. The warmth is so soothing for the cold vata types and this helps them relax and slow down. The first part of summer is the best time for vatas to be in balance. They can enjoy the sun, humidity, and feel their anxiety leave their body.
Finally their dryness eases up, and their digestion might improve because of it. Anything that relaxes and slows the quick vata down is helpful to keep them balanced.
Summer is the outdoor season and spending time in nature is healing for vata, as it is for any dosha. Put your feet in the grass, inhale the fresh air, and have fun in and around the water. This is truly a healing formula!
Vatas still benefit from a diet that has ample oil, water, and fiber to keep their bowels lubricated and moving well. Think avocados, olive oil, cold teas (not too cold), and summer fruits.
Pitta
Summer is pitta season due to the high heat. The sun is strong and this will rise pittas internal temperature. This means they need to be extra mindful of cooling and calming themselves down.
This often means slowing down, relaxing, and having fun! Enjoy cooling water activities, time with family and friends, and less time for work whenever you can. This is a great time to recharge and rejuvenate.
Pitta needs to be careful spending time in the sun. Avoid the hottest hours (10am-3pm) and stay in the shade. Drink plenty of water (not iced!), and enjoy summer fruits, and all the green veggies you can eat.
Taking breaks is essential for pitta to keep their stress levels at a minimum, a five-minute break to take some deep breaths, a ten-minute stroll around the block, some stretches at your desks. It is in the small things.
Slowing down will also help pitta keep their heated emotions in balance. Heat will drive up their judgemental minds, high standards, and quick irritation. Relax and have fun, pitta!
"Taking breaks is essential for pitta to keep their stress levels at a minimum."
Kapha
Kaphas enjoy the warm weather as well. Kaphas also have the cold quality in them, just like vatas. The warm temperatures will actually make them more active, they might feel more energized by it and feel more inclined to move. Kaphas do hold a lot of water already, so sweating will be familiar to kapha at this time of year.
That is okay though, sweat out any of the remaining water you held on to from winter. Kaphas generally have enough of everything. They hold on to minerals and vitamins and such well, so they are fine sweating some of it out.
Kaphas can benefit from all the fresh and light vegetables at the farmers market. Enjoy lighter salads with lentils and chickpeas and a fruit breakfast.
The increase of energy from the summer helps kapha improve their mood and can get them out of their stuckness.
Routine and lifestyle
The longer days bring a new routine. Getting up earlier is easier and some movement before work can be beneficial for kaphas especially. Get that body moving! A new morning routine for summer might be beneficial for you. Get out early morning and connect to the sun, tend to your garden, or go for a short walk. Soaking up the sunlight and get your blood moving!
You will notice an increase in energy and feeling better overall hopefully. The sun gives us so much goodness.
We still want to make sure we have our routines in place though. Summer time can be a spontaneous time and this can bring imbalance in the body. Making sure you still eat your meals at the same time every day and go to bed by 10 pm to get enough sleep.
Ayurvedic Diet for June
What is available always depends on where you are in the world. Your best bet is to check your weekly farmers' market or subscribe to a newsletter of your local farm to stay updated.
Lots of great produce is coming into season in June. Have you had asparagus yet? How about rhubarb? Or strawberries? There is lots to chose from at the market. Time for some new dishes at the dinner table!
Summer is the time for lighter foods, lots of fresh vegetables, and of course fruits. Our digestion is definitely affected by the hot weather and depending on your dosha and state of health this can be good or challenging.
Vatas always need to be careful with too much raw foods. This can cause gas and dryness in the colon. Pittas need to make sure they eat enough food to feel full and get enough energy. Kaphas can enjoy all the lighter and fresh foods summer time has to offer.
The tastes of summer are sweet, bitter, and astringent. Sweet foods bring nourishment, bitter is cooling and brings minerals and vitamins, and astringency is drying. Especially for pittas these taste will help to cool you down and keep balance.
Summer is the best time to reduce your intake of meat and chose beans, legumes, tofu, fish, seafood, and lighter meats like chicken or lamb. We need less heavy and building foods since we are not preparing for winter just yet! It is a season of shedding weight, water, and toxins.
In summer we also cut back on spicing in our foods. Most spices are warming in nature, and we want to add more cooling foods to our menu. There are some cooling spices though like fennel and coriander seeds. Choose fresh herbs like parsley, dill, and cilantro to add flavour to your meals.
Reducing dairy products is also great for kapha to reduce mucus in their bodies. Dairy generally has the cold quality and we want heat for kapha.
*A diet is unique to each person. Book an Ayurveda Assessment to find out more about your doshas and what an ideal diet would be for you. Click here to book your 20-min FREE consult.
*Sign up for the Ayurveda Cleanse! This is a 7-day on-demand program that will help you reset your diet and lifestyle for better health. Perfect if you want to lose weight, improve your digestion, get better sleep, heal skin issues, and overall learn more about an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle. You can start this cleanse at any time of the year that is convenient to you. Read more here.
*Always consult your physician before making adaptations to your lifestyle and diet.
Comments