June Newsletter

Watermelon soothes Pitta and hydrates from the inside out.

As the sun climbs high and days grow longer, nature transitions into Pitta season—hot, sharp, intense. This fiery energy can be invigorating when in balance… but overwhelming when it tips too far.

In Ayurveda, Pitta dosha governs transformation—digestion, detoxification, and our inner fire. But in summer, when outer heat rises, it can amplify the Pitta within us, leading to physical and emotional imbalances.

How Do You Recognise If Pitta Is High?

You might notice:

• Feeling easily irritated or impatient

• Restless sleep, especially waking up between 2–4 am

• Skin flare-ups (rashes, breakouts, heat sensitivity)

• Acidic digestion, heartburn, or strong cravings

• Overheating emotionally—feeling driven but also critical, frustrated, or burned out

As someone with a strong Pitta constitution, I’ve learned that summer asks for a different rhythm—softer, slower, and cooler.

6 Gentle Ways to Balance Pitta in Summer

These practices are simple, yet deeply effective. Think of them as small offerings to your nervous system, your digestion, nervous system and heart.

1. Choose Cooling Foods

Opt for foods that are naturally sweet, bitter, and astringent—these pacify Pitta.

Favor:

• Fresh greens, cucumbers, zucchini

• Coconut water, watermelon, sweet berries

• Mint, coriander, fennel, aloe vera juice

Reduce or avoid:

• Spicy, fried, and fermented foods

• Excess coffee, vinegar, garlic, onions, and sour dairy like yogurt

2. Hydrate Mindfully (Skip the Ice)

Yes, staying hydrated is essential—but in Ayurveda, how we drink is as important as what we drink.

Icy drinks may feel tempting on a hot day, but they shock the digestive fire (Agni) and can actually slow down metabolism.

👉 Instead, sip cool (room temperature or slightly chilled) water throughout the day.

👉 Try herbal infusions like coriander seed water, rose petals, or mint leaves steeped overnight.

3. If You Say Yes to Ice Cream? Say Yes, But Mindfully

Ayurveda isn’t about restriction; it’s about wisdom and balance.

If you’re enjoying ice cream in summer (which Pitta types often crave!), try sprinkling a little cinnamon on top. This small addition supports digestion and reduces the cold dampness that can throw your Agni off balance.

4. Moonlight & Morning Walks

In Pitta season, less is more. Choose gentle movement — like a quiet walk under the moonlight or an early morning stroll at sunrise. These are sacred, cooling times when nature supports your nervous system and calms inner heat.

Avoid intense exercise, especially during the hottest part of the day (10:00–16:00). Overexertion can aggravate Pitta and lead to burnout, irritability, or skin issues.

Let summer be soft. Let it cool you.

5. Rose Everything

Rose is a true ally for Pitta—cooling, heart-softening, and uplifting. Use rose hydrosol on your face, drink rose tea, or add a few drops of food-grade rose water to drinks.

6. Oil the Body, Calm the Fire

Try a gentle abhyanga (self-oil massage) with coconut, especially in the morning. This calms Vata and cools Pitta at the same time.

A Season to Soften

Summer doesn’t have to burn you out. With a few mindful shifts, it can be a time of radiance, clarity, and gentle joy. Listen to what your body and heart are asking for. Slowness. Sweetness. Shade. Soft breaths.

Ayurveda reminds us—we are nature. And when we move with her rhythms, healing begins effortlessly.

If you don't know your dosha, you can take the Dosha Quiz to find it out here:

https://www.elifsantkaur.com/ayurvedic-dosha-quiz

Cooling Breath (Sitali Pranayama)

A Kundalini technique to soothe heat, calm the nervous system, and balance Pitta.

Feeling the summer heat—inside and out? Let’s cool it… consciously.

This gentle, powerful breath practice from Kundalini Yoga is called Sitali Pranayama, also known as the Cooling Breath. It’s your natural remedy for irritability, heat, inflammation, and emotional fire. Practiced regularly, it soothes the nervous system, reduces excess Pitta, and brings back your inner calm.

Why especially now?

Summer is ruled by Pitta dosha—fire and water. While that gives us drive, too much heat leads to burnout, skin issues, impatience, and restlessness. Sitali Pranayama helps you regulate the inner flame — not extinguish it, just soften the edges.

Just 1–3 minutes a day can leave you feeling cool, calm, and emotionally steady.

Bonus: This breath technique also hydrates the subtle body, reduces cravings, and supports better sleep — especially when practiced in the evening.

Instructions:

1. Sit comfortably in a meditative posture with a straight spine. Close your eyes gently and rest your hands on your knees in Gyan Mudra (thumb and index finger touching).

2. Stick out your tongue and curl the sides upward into a tube (like a straw). (If you can’t curl your tongue, gently place the tip of the tongue out of the mouth and breath.

3. Inhale deeply through the curled tongue, drawing cool air in, as if sipping cool water from a fresh, flowing stream.

4. Exhale slowly through the nose.

5. Continue for 1–3 minutes to start. You can build up to 7–11 minutes over time.

6. After finishing, inhale deeply, hold for a few seconds, and gently relax into stillness. Notice the cooling, calming effect.

   
   

Benefits:

• This pranayam gives power, strength, and vitality. It can have a cooling, cleansing effect. Initially the tongue tastes bitter, and eventually become sweet.

• Can be done 26 times in the morning or 26 times in the evening. 108 repetitions is a deep meditation and a powerful healer for the body and the digestive system.

Shamana Shakti: Cooling the Inner Fire with Gemstone Support

In the heat of summer, Ayurveda reminds us to soothe excess Pitta not only through food and lifestyle, but also with the subtle support of nature’s crystals as each gemstone carries a natural vibration like plants or breath that subtly shifts our inner state.

When chosen with intention, crystals can soothe what's in excess and nourish what's depleted supporting your Ayurvedic balance from inside out.

Moonstone, with its soft lunar energy, calms the mind and its cooling energy relieves pitta. It contains the element of water, air and ether. It supports feminine energy, soothes emotional instability, stress and helps you stay soft in the heat.

Amethyst, a naturally cooling stone, a gentle Pitta pacifier, helps clear the mind, release agitation, and support restful sleep — especially when heat rises within the body or emotions.

Wear them close to your skin, meditate with them, or simply place them on your altar to invite cooling, grounding energy into your summer rituals.

Explore Gemstone Energy, Intention, and Beauty at ariamalaatelier.com