July Wellness Map
The Heat is On!
My goodness it’s hot. Let’s do a fire ceremony! Those two things may sound contradictory, but often when we get overheated what we need is release, in our minds, hearts and bodies. A fire ceremony is one fun way to do that. In Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz’s beautiful book “Earth Medicines,” she teaches us that indigenous cultures have long used smoke as a vessel to carry prayers and thoughts to the creator for guidance and clearing. The heat peaks in July in the U.S., which makes it a perfect time to release. In a safe and open space, write down what weighs heavy on you. Fold the piece of paper mindfully and place it at the bottom of a natural fire-proof receptacle such a terra cotta pot. Use a match to set it alight, and while it is transformed by the flames into smoke and ash imagine your worry/problem/issue being transformed into something that has brought you experience and strength. Then wish it good-bye as the smoke floats skyward, with gratitude for the lesson knowing it has been released from your mind, body and spirit.
Here are three more Summer Ayurvedic tips to help you cool down:
Mint - put it in your water every day, all day. Pretend it’s ice, because you really shouldn’t be putting ice in your drinks. ;) See below for more on this wonderful herb.
Take it easy. After being cooped up all winter we all want to get out and about. That is great! Just don’t overdo it. In summer we can get depleted fairly easily and end up grumpy and tired. Make sure to get adequate rest and of course, hydrate (see tip #1).
Avoid coffee, alcohol, all things sour and spicy foods. Summer is the time of backyard parties complete with sour cream dips, cocktails, pickles, hot dogs with sauerkraut, chips and salsa, and so much more. I used to looooove taking a break during the day with a nice iced coffee, too. Unfortunately, all of those things can exacerbate pitta. I know! So sad, but so true. There are great replacements, though! How about some mint sun tea? Or a watermelon basil mocktail? Still want that glass of wine? Go with a dry chardonnay for the least exacerbation.
Nourish
June was such a fun month for me! I was so excited to get back into my garden and greenhouse and revel in all things green growing. One prolific plant without fail is Zucchini. It starts to come out of everyone’s ears soon, and I’m always trying to find new ways to utilize this abundant summer staple. Here is one of my favorite quick and easy recipes for Zucchini Lime Rice Bowl.
During fiery Pitta season, you’d think digestion is at an all time high as well, but it’s actually the opposite. Digestive fire tends to run low in Summer as the body works hard to disperse internal heat out to the limbs. As such, it’s great to keep things light and easily digestible, with smoothies, soups and lightly cooked foods. More than anything, though, see what you can get locally at your farmers market. Fresh, local, properly spiced foods are the epitome of Ayurvedic love.
Just as a reminder: if you’re feeling hungry mid-day, fruit is a perfect snack eaten on its own.
As mentioned last month, here are some foods to add to your shopping list, or better yet, grab from your local Farmers Market! Just Google/Bing/WhateverSearchService “farmers market near me” and boom! Local Farmers Markets you can explore while supporting your local farmer.
Sweet foods: Berries, dates, figs, mangos, melons, beets, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, rice, wheat, tofu, red lentils, almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, aloe, avocado, lime, cilantro, mint, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel. These foods are cooling and strengthening.
Bitter foods: leafy greens like kale and swiss chard, sesame seeds, chocolate, brussel sprouts, tea, zucchini, citrus zest, cumin, dill, turmeric. These foods stimulate the healthy flow of bile. Bitter foods are the best for PItta (hot) to keep cool. So if you are feeling overheated, grab something here, or something from the sweet category (above).
Astringent foods: apples, pomegranate, avocado, sprouts, most raw vegetables, beans, popcorn, coriander, fennel, and parsley. These substances have a drying nature.
As I always mention, in Ayurveda there are some foods NOT to combine. Here’s a quick list.
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July Spotlight - Mint, your new best friend
I can’t say enough about mint. My mom gets headaches from peppermint, but spearmint doesn’t seem to bother her, so play with different mints if you have a similar issue. The thing is, don’t give up on mint or take it for granted. Sure, it grows like a weed and won’t let you forget about it if it’s not contained, but the more I use mint, the more I’m fine with it taking over a (somewhat larger than I had planned) corner of my garden. Here are just some of the benefits:
contains Vitamin A and iron
eases indigestion
disperses heat, giving a cooling effect
its aroma lightens mood
clears stagnation and mucus
can help alleviate a fever
can help alleviate IBS
carminative - prevents and releases gas
Here are just a few things you can do with mint:
put a sprig in your water with lime or cucumber
put in your salad to aid digestion of the raw ingredients
hold some sprigs in your hand and smell them to uplift your spirits
put them on a sandwich (see my easy tofu sammie recipe)
Honestly, the options are endless. The more I use mint in the summer, the more I love it. Just search for “summer mint recipes” and give some a go. Your body will thank you for it.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more Ayurvedic insights daily and blog post alerts. Until next time, I wish you all love, health, and happiness!
💛, Stephanie
Important note: The information provided is general guidance in accordance with Ayurvedic seasonal living. Every human is different; yoga and Ayurveda treat the individual and work best when tailored to your unique constitution. Contact me to learn more.