Hello, my friend —
It’s officially summer, and we are definitely feeling the transition here in Charlotte, NC. Humidity and temps are rising, and surprise late afternoon/early evening rain showers are becoming more bountiful.
I’m excited to share a new addition to my tribe with you, Hannah Levin. I was introduced to Hannah by one of my clients who, like me, loves connecting people to one another.
Hannah Levin is an Ayurveda Health Counselor (NAMA), a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT with Yoga Alliance), a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) and a Yoga Health Coach (Yoga Healer). Hannah has dedicated her life to learning and teaching Ayurveda, Yoga, Mindset, and Creativity. She brings this integrated knowledge to her clients as individuals on a unique path toward healing in her business Heartfelt Wellbeing and her signature, online program for women, the Vitality Circle.
Hannah’s guest blog post is coming to you at such an aligned time as it’s chock full of tips we all need to thrive during the hot summer, particularly during a hot summer of COVID and a rise against injustice.
It’s Getting Hot in Here!
In looking back over my life, I can see a pattern of making BIG decisions in July. Whether it was to leave a relationship, buy a house, or transition my business from brick and mortar to online, July seems to be when I take those leaps of faith. The light and warmth of summer energize me and I feel a, “don’t mess with with me, I am powerful beyond measure!” energy that is less prominent during other times of the year.
Do you love or dread the Summertime light and heat? Do you tend to get more grumpy and frustrated in the summer or do you feel more energized and alive? Do you notice skin issues, looser bowel movements, or more acid indigestion this time of year? Do you take on big projects and feel more inspired, focused, and driven? Do you burn out by the late summer, feeling totally exhausted?
These experiences are all aspects of Pitta (the energy of fire) showing up more prevalently in the Summertime as the heat in our environment builds. Ayurveda, the Sister-Science to Yoga, is all about living in alignment with the rhythms of the seasons AND balancing with the Wisdom of Opposites.
With the world changing rapidly with a global pandemic, and racial injustice needing to be addressed, we have stepped into the fire of transformation that is the essence of the energy of Pitta. Knowing how to care for ourselves, and keep our inner fire in check, will allow us all to show up to the larger conversations in the world from a place of balance and nourishment.
We are all affected by the energy of Pitta this time of year, but those who have a Pitta-predominant constitution will be particularly aggravated. We can all find ease in the heat with these following tips. I suggest picking 2-4 of these recommendations to try out and see how you feel, then expand from there. Go slow and notice what shifts for you.
Guidelines for Summer (PITTA) Season
LIFESTYLE:
– Wake before the sun and connect with the cool morning light and solar energy as it builds
– Walk barefoot in the cool morning grass
– Exercise at dawn or dusk
– Massage body with coconut or sunflower oil
– Keep cool during hot times of day – go swimming, take a cold shower, etc.
– Get sun on your skin early in the morning (cooler spectrum of light)
– Cover the body with light, loose fitting cotton clothes
– Good colors to wear: grey, light blue, purple and green
– Avoid: skipping meals and extended fasting
– If pitta is high (meaning you get easily irritated or frustrated), avoid serious or heated discussions
– Get 7-8 hours of sleep, waking before the sunrise for optimum energy and clarity
– Use Alternate Nostril Breathing to balance your body’s inner thermostat
– Use Sheetali Pranayam to cool down the body, its like inner air conditioning
DIET:
– Favor sweet, bitter, astringent foods
– Avoid pungent (spicy), sour, salty in excess
– Avoid red meat, pork, lamb, bison and bacon
– Drink cooling herbal teas (see below)
– Avoid alcohol (especially red wine) and caffeine
– Eat sweet fruits, avoid sour and acidic fruits
– Eat melons 1/2 hour before, or 2 hours after, other food
– Eat lots of seasonal vegetables, especially leafy greens
– Green smoothies! Try adding nutrient rich wild plants like dandelion, thistle or plantain.
– If you have acid reflux or heartburn, drink psyllium in water between lunch and dinner
– Make sun or moon tea – place herbs in a jar filled with water and leave out in the sun or overnight so that the moonlight infuses the herbs into the water. The energy of the sun is energizing, the energy of the moon is cooling and calming.
HERBS:
– Hibiscus- used in many tropical countries to cool and nourish during hot weather, high in Vitamin C, fruity, and lovely with mint.
– Mint- cooling, calming, and digestive aid
– Shatavari – one of the primary Pitta pacifying Ayurvedic herbs, especially nourishing to the female reproductive system
– Red clover – rich in minerals and gentle blood tonic
– Passionflower – calming, soothing, great for sleep
– Gotu kola or Brahmi – helps relax and clear the mind and nourish the nervous system
– Cumin, Coriander and Fennel – a traditional Ayurvedic blend that helps clear heat and support digestion
The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda is helpful for us modern people! We need to dive deeper into self-care during times of change so we don’t make poor decisions in a time when each of us is needed to help envision what is next. Living in alignment with the seasons is a great way to become more nourished and vibrant. Eventually, you might want to learn more about your individual constitution, but for now, try just noticing heat in your body and mind and explore balancing it with food and lifestyle choices. I am cheering you on!
And…I will keep you posted about what big leap of faith I take this July!
Ways to connect with Hannah:
- Her website: https://www.
heartfeltwellbeing.com - Sign up for the Ayurveda Super Habit Challenge: Earlier, Lighter Dinner July 13-21: https://www.
heartfeltwellbeing.com/ challenge - Join her FREE Facebook Group, Yoga and More for daily yoga practices and monthly Ayurveda teachings. Participants in Hannah’s programs experience better sleep, awesome digestion, increased energy, weight loss and a perspective shift toward ease that comes with living in alignment with their true nature. (I’ll be Hannah’s guest on Facebook live tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24 at 4:00 pm EST. We will be talking about what yoga is and how mindset ties to it. If you can’t join us live, catch the replay! It’s going to be fun!)
As always, please, share this blog with anyone who may need to see it. Often times, my greatest gifts come from my tribe who are looking out for me.
