A pitta (heat) reducing yoga practice

A fundamental principle of Ayurveda is that our habits, routines, and dietary choices should align with the seasons. Ayurveda views our physical bodies, along with everything in the Universe, as being made up of the five primary elements; earth, water, fire, air, and ether or empty space. These elements are expressed in the physical body as qualities of stability/support (earth), feeling/fluidity (water), heat and metabolism (fire), respiration and circulation (air), and space and lightness (ether). 

Characteristics of Summer:
The characteristics of summer are heat, long days of bright sun, and sharp intensity. These are all attributes of pitta dosha, which is why summer is considered a pitta season. 

While the summer weather is welcome after a long cool, wet season, it can be too much of a good thing. When the fire and water element are out of balance, it creates an excess of the pitta dosha. To help create balance, consider one of the classic Ayurvedic sutras that says, “like increases like and opposites balance.” This wisdom is extremely helpful when considering your physical activities in the summer.

Summer often motivates us to up our game with physical fitness, especially in the Pacific Northwest where we experience many rainy months and are waiting for summer! The summer months to be active provided you exercise at appropriate times and at an appropriate intensity.

Here are some tips for enjoying yoga and other forms of exercise in the summer while not getting overheated.

• Pitta dosha is characterized by heat, sharpness, intensity and force.  Think road rage on a hot day! 
• Cultivate the opposite qualities.  Think cool, soft, flowing and graceful.  
• Practice in the early AM or in the evening after it cools down.
• Have an attitude of relaxed effort.  While you may enjoy an intense and precision driven practice, when pitta is up, you need to ease up on intensity and work at about 70% intensity. 
• Keep your pace moderate. 
• Breathe fully and completely and focus on the exhale.  Exhale to release heat, tension and irritation from the body.
• Flow through postures at a moderate pace and/or hold postures for a shorter time.  Long holds build heat and can aggravate pitta.
• Keep your gaze soft and orient it toward the earth or the horizon.   A piercing, upward gaze will increase pitta.
• A pitta reducing yoga asana practice includes: flowing postures, forward bends, lateral standing poses, twists, restorative poses and savasana.

Check out the audio practice below:

ALL LEVEL PITTA REDUCING YOGA PRACTICE - 24 MINUTES

Share it with a friend!
 
XO
Annie