Stay Cool in Summer – Pitta Pacifying Practices

Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe—including us—is composed of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements express themselves through qualities (gunas), which appear as ten pairs of opposites: hot–cold, light–heavy, dry–moist, sharp–dull, and so on. Each of us is born with a unique combination of these elements, known as our constitution or prakruti. The goal of Ayurveda is to honor and live in harmony with this natural blueprint, supporting health, vitality, and longevity. Since we’re constantly influenced by seasons, diet, lifestyle, and environment, this balance is something we must continually tend to.

Summer and the Pitta Dosha

Summer is considered pitta season. The rising temperatures bring qualities of heat, dryness, and intensity into the environment. Within us, these same qualities—sharp, hot, light, and moist—can easily increase. If left unchecked, this can lead to irritability, inflammation, and overheating. To restore balance, Ayurveda invites us to bring in cooling, calming, and slightly grounding foods and practices.

Pitta-Pacifying Diet

To stay cool, calm, and hydrated, favor a predominantly pitta-pacifying diet. The tastes that soothe pitta are sweet, bitter, and astringent. Meanwhile, sour, salty, and pungent tastes aggravate pitta, so it’s best to minimize spicy foods, excess salt, fried foods, and fermented dishes.

Instead, choose gentle, cooling foods such as:

• Grains & staples: rice, oatmeal, applesauce

• Vegetables: asparagus, beets, cabbage, carrots, sprouts, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini

• Legumes & nuts: aduki beans, mung beans, chickpeas, almonds

• Dairy & oils: coconut, cottage cheese, milk, and ghee

• Fruits: most are naturally cooling, hydrating, and refreshing

Herbs, Spices & Beverages

Season meals with mild, cooling herbs and spices such as coriander, cumin, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, hibiscus, chrysanthemum, and rose. Supportive Ayurvedic herbs—like neem, brahmi, manjistha, and amalaki—can also be used in powders or capsules to cool, calm, and cleanse the blood.

For a refreshing alternative to coffee or other caffeinated pick-me-ups, try cooling juices and hydrating drinks. Fresh cucumber-mint juice, melon, pomegranate, grape juice, or coconut water are all excellent choices. I like to dilute mine with half water (filtered) for an even lighter, more balancing beverage.

• Blue Water Therapy
  Fill a blue glass or bottle with filtered water and place it in the sunlight for two hours—or even better, under the moonlight overnight. Drink 1–3 cups daily. The blue vibration naturally brings a cooling and soothing effect to the body and emotions.
  
• Yoga
  Choose gentle, grounding practices over intense workouts. Instead of vigorous sun salutations, try the Moon Salutations sequence, which cools, softens, and balances energy. (See the content box below for a video link to follow along.
  
  
• Pranayama (Breath Practices)
  
  
  • Lunar Breathing: Close off the right nostril with your thumb and breathe only through the left side for about 5 minutes. This activates lunar, cooling energy.
    
    
  • Shitali Pranayama: Sit comfortably with a straight spine. Place your hands in gyan mudra on your knees. Extend your tongue, curling the sides to form a tube. Inhale through the tongue, then retract it, close your mouth, and exhale through the nose. Begin with 5 rounds, gradually increasing as it feels comfortable. Shitali literally means “cooling” in Sanskrit and calms body, mind, and emotions.

• Clothing
  Wear light, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Favor cooling, calming colors such as white, blue, and soft greens, while avoiding overly bright or heating tones like red and orange.

   

• Abhyanga (Self-Massage)
  In the cooler months, sesame oil is a wonderful massage oil, but in summer it can feel too heavy and warming. Instead, switch to lighter, cooling oils like sunflower or almond, and occasionally add coconut oil for an extra soothing effect. Watch here how to do Abhyanga

Even adopting just one or two of these practices can make a noticeable difference. Notice how your body and mind respond, and let these small rituals help you stay cool, calm, and bright this summer.

• Mentioned Resources:
• * Moon Salutations – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1eF-Wl2AlU
• References:

1. https://lifespa.com/pitta-diet/
2. Dr. Lad, Vasant. The complete book of Ayurvedic home remedies. Lotus Press.