Summer is the time to jump in the water, enjoy the mountain air, or at least exert yourself a little less than during the rest of the year. And it’s no coincidence that this is the case. Summer is also the time when our pitta dosha comes to the surface, and it may not be innocent …

In Ayurveda (Ayurveda is the science of life, and although it originated in the East, it applies to human beings – wherever they live), there are three doshas, namely vata, pitta and kapha. And if kapha dosha has brought us through spring to summer, and after summer we will be ’embraced’ again by vata, the current summer months are ‘purely pitta’. But what does that even mean?

On excess pitta

The Pitta dosha is powered by the elements fire and water, and its energy is primarily used for metabolism, or the metabolism of the body. It is the internal fire – agni. We all have all three doshas and our lives are most beautiful when they are in balance, but as with each season a particular dosha takes the ‘lead’ in our natural biorhythm, i.e. pitta in summer, it is good to know that an excess of pitta can also bring us emotional instability with irritability and a ‘tinge’ of too much anger, annoyance, cynicism, and can also bring spite, jealousy and (unhealthy) competitiveness.

The consequences (of excess ‘summer pitta’) can also be reflected in our skin, which can ‘fall victim’ to acne, eczema or rashes, or we may notice redness or even a yellow tinge to both our skin and eyes. But even if it seems impossible to remain unaffected when we look in the mirror and are shocked by, say, an unsightly pimple or slightly disturbed by a skin inflammation, let us be grateful that our skin has alerted us to our inner state and given us the opportunity to act in time.

Among the trees!

In general, since summer is already ‘prime time’ for hot pittas, people – especially those with pitta dosha in the foreground – should not overexpose themselves to the sun. So instead of ‘roasting’ on an open beach, we choose to lie (according to Zmelkoow 😁) ‘hanging in a net between two trees’ (by the way, grammatically correct is really ‘between two trees’, but we like the comma, don’t we? 😁). Our skin will thank us for it later on, when it will age normally, but not at an accelerated rate (!), which is otherwise caused by (over)exposure to the sun.

And speaking of trees, it’s essential that we make time to visit nature and walk – well, among the trees – all the more often or for longer in summer! 😉 In the woods, we’ll not only ‘drink’ in oxygen, but also in welcome humidity. Let’s breathe and breathe in nature! Let’s feel that we are nature and just – be. Of course, we can also take walks in the evenings, when we can relax under the spell of the stars and the moon. Let’s just not forget sleep hygiene, which includes a nap before 10 pm. And sleeping at night is not a good idea.

Let there be moderation!

As indicated, therefore, it is the heat (and fever) that is derived from pitta dosha, or. of its elements and thus dominates summer. In order not to be fussy, thus spoiling the summer not only for ourselves but also for our loved ones (which may, of course, unfortunately, also jeopardise a relationship), not to be plagued by inflammation, and instead to remember this summer for a full and sustained sense of ‘truly being here and now’, it is also worth considering moderation in sporting endeavours.

Instead of a marathon (and if we do, let’s make sure it’s not in the middle of the day!), let’s go for a swim (not only the sea, but also lakes and rivers, and eventually swimming pools and ponds), and let’s go for a hike in the mountains, following the advice of our grandparents – that is, early in the morning. This is even more important in the face of climate change, which is bringing us more and more extreme weather conditions and phenomena in the form of heat waves and severe storms (and even more so in the high mountains in summer).

Pitta should also be taken into account in the diet. As this dosha is also increased in the organism by burning or burning. Spicy, sour and salty foods, we should try to avoid these tastes in summer (even ‘pitta people’) and instead reach for foods that cool things down, such as home-grown summer fruits like figs, apricots, peaches, cherries, apples and pears, as long as the fruit we choose is not too sour, and fruits from a little further afield, such as watermelon, mango, melon and coconut, are also very useful. Courgettes and cucumbers also have a cooling effect, and other vegetables can be eaten (only for people with pitta dosha, Ayurveda recommends a slight restriction of onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes, even in their raw form, as this can again lead to excess pitta). We can also spend the summer without meat and instead have some young grilled cheese (dairy products from smaller dairies and cheese factories are better quality than commercial ones).

Less is more.

I prefer to go to the nearby market in summer, but I always stick to the ‘less is more’ principle, which applies not only to spices, but also to portion sizes. Especially in summer, when it’s even easier to survive hot days with less food in the body, as it doesn’t need to spend a lot of energy transforming (too heavy) inputs. The importance of hydration probably goes without saying, but still – ‘good old water’ really is the law, isn’t it? 😁 So if we don’t have the option of spring water, luckily we still have (and let’s keep it that way!) good tap water in Slovenia, so let’s hydrate with it instead of sugary drinks. Not just our skin, our whole body will thank us for it – including, of course, our minds, which will be clearer and more penetrating.

Indeed, this too – a clear and penetrating mind – is a characteristic of pitta dosha, so we can jokingly conclude that we won’t miss anything by reading more during this period, as we may find that what we read becomes even more ‘settled’. Since we are supposed to have a bit more time to ourselves in summer anyway, it can also be a good time to learn (maybe even the first) yoga asanas and kriyas, and/or to get acquainted with maybe (also the first) breathing techniques and/or meditation, which helps us to balance the (severe 😁) summer pitta.

So let summer be a time for – just being.

In the summer, I also reach for a hydrolatte several times a day. I use a hydrating toner to refresh my face. Nanu Facial Toner contains damask rose, which refreshes, moisturises and nourishes the skin. Green tea extract improves skin texture, elasticity and resilience (MORE). And we treat ourselves – and thus, of course, our skin – by massaging and rubbing in the appropriate nourishing oils. So let’s take time for ourselves and – let’s give ourselves love!

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