Today is the first day of summer, and here in Minneapolis we've already had record-breaking steaks of 90- and 100-degree temperatures. When summer hits in the Midwest, it can feel relentless. Luckily, Ayurveda provides us with a plethora of ways to manage the heat and suffer less. Here are seven easy ways to incorporate Ayurveda into your summer routine.
1. Ditch the ice water.
It sounds counterintuitive, but your ice water isn’t doing you any favors in the hot weather. It dampens the digestive fire during a season when your digestive fire is already a little lower (we are naturally drawn to lighter and smaller meals in summer), and we need to have a well-functioning digestive system to avoid afflictions that often strike in summer, like heartburn, heat rash, heachaches. Choose cool or room temperature beverages instead.
2. Exercise early.
You may have heard of the three doshas, or energies, which exist in our bodies in varying amounts: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Pitta is what we’re talking about this time of year: the hot, sharp, oily qualities that come out to play in the summer sun. Pitta is dominant around noon when the sun is highest, so get your exercise done well before this time, ideally between 6 and 10am when it’s cooler and you’re less likely to build up too much heat.
3. Get to bed before 10pm.
Pitta is dominant around noon, and also around midnight-- or more specifically, between 10pm and 2am. If you stay up past 10, you’re likely to get a second wind when your mind becomes more active at this time, and that can wreak havoc on your sleep. Just say no.
4. Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew, oh my!
Melons are amazing in summer for their cooling effect and sweet taste-- a perfect combination to reduce Pitta. But be forewarned that it is best to eat these fruits by themselves, because they digest so quickly due to their high water content! So repeat after me: not in a smoothie, not in a salad, not with cheese, not with crackers. Melon by itself is a perfect mid-afternoon snack.
5. Speaking of cooling foods…
You have many to choose from. Cucumber, avocado, coconut water, fennel, licorice or mint tea (cooled to room temperature), sweet fruits, berries, purple grapes, lime. Avoid spicy food, fermented food, alcohol, cooked tomatoes as these all increase heat.
6. Bedtime foot massage.
Coconut oil or castor oil, rubbed into the feet at bedtime, is a delightful way to pull excess heat out of your body while you sleep. Try it and you’ll be a convert. If it’s too warm to put socks on, have a strategy for mess-mitigation like using old sheets or a towel at the foot of your bed, so you don’t ruin nice bedsheets.
7. Say "aloe" to a certain succulent!
Get an aloe plant. They’re fairly easy to grow indoors, and the aloe vera gel you get from slicing a leaf open has so many uses! Topically, the gel is great for sunburn, heat rash, eczema, heat-induced headaches, and hemorrhoids. Interestingly, most substances that increase the digestive fire (see #1, to revisit the importance of a strong digestive fire) are heating, but aloe vera is cooling AND excellent for increasing digestion and removing toxins from the body, lessening constipation and soothing digestive disturbances. Plus, it’s an excellent tonic for the reproductive organs.
In Ayurveda, nothing is one size fits all. These are general recommendations for times when there’s excess heat in the body and/or the environment. If you’d like more personalized recommendations, you’re welcome to schedule a consultation.