Developing Deeper Connections to the Earth through Awareness, and Ritual and Community
My family spends time in the Peruvian Andes almost every year. Each time I am in Peru, I give thanks that I have the opportunity to step into a more grounded relationship with myself and with the earth. My time in the Peruvian Andes shifts the ways in which I experience and connect to the earth. Over the years of spending time in the Andes, I have explored rich and varied ways to engage my sadhana (my spiritual practice) with the intent to experience a deeper connection to nature’s rhythms. I call these Earth Sadhanas. As a yogi and Ayurvedic wellness coach, I have a strong desire to make offerings of wisdom teachings and practices to help people reclaim their connection to the natural world. I believe that a true path of yoga must go way beyond what we do on the mat and cushion and encompass all of our daily activities and help us reclaim our connection with the natural world.
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The summer season has these characteristics: heat, long days of bright sun, and sharp intensity.
These are all attributes of pitta dosha (fire and a little water), which is why summer is considered in Ayurveda to be a pitta season. And, even though some climates are also humid this time of year, the cumulative effect of intense heat is to dry things out, so summer is also considered dry. According to Ayurveda, our bodies heat up over the course of the summer season. The effects of this heat can show up as skin irritations, rashes, hay fever, and disrupted digestion. If you suffer from any of these, it is likely that your body has accumulated excess heat. If you can cool and release the hot, sharp qualities of summer from your body, you will enjoy the summer season more. Thankfully, if you look to what is fresh in your area, you can cool the heat by eating what nature provides best this season.
For a list and links to healthy seasonal recipes, click here. Here's a visual of foods to favor and foods to avoid in the summer: Download the tip sheet here: ![]()
Vibrant Living Summer Tips As summer heats up in your area, Ayurveda has sound advice for staying healthy through the season. Stay Cool, Calm, Content and Hydrated. Summer Eating Tips
Summer Living Tips
Interested in more healthy living tip sheets, go here.
Our family loves to travel. We spend most of our summers on the go visiting family out of state, camping, and traveling to Peru. We travel by foot, plane, train, bus, car, and taxi. We sleep in airports, hotels, homes, cabins, and tents. I’ve gotten good at traveling, but it hasn’t always been this way. I've always loved the stimulation of traveling – taking in new landscapes, meeting new people, tasting new foods, etc. Yet, getting a good night sleep and keeping my digestion running smooth haven't always been easy. That’s where the strategies of yoga and Ayurveda come in. Over the years, I have cultivated an effective tool kit of strategies to keep me healthy when I travel. Now, no matter where I am on the planet, I keep my daily routine, and I incorporate strategies, foods and remedies that keeps my body-mind healthy and happy. These are my best travel tips: Stay hydrated. This is my number one travel tip. It’s so easy to get dehydrated while traveling. In my experience, dehydration leads to feeling ungrounded, spaced out, grumpy. Dehydration also upsets digestion. I always travel with my water bottle. If it’s cold, I travel with a thermos full of hot water. Ayurveda recommends room temperature and/or warm water rather than cold beverages for sound digestion. To feel at home, I like to travel with a few of my favorite herbal tea bags. .
Travel with nourishing and grounding food. There is nothing worse than being hungry while traveling, and there is nothing worse than being somewhere like an airport terminal or gas station convenience store with no good food choices. I love to try new foods wherever I am, but on travel days, I always bring along my own nourishing food. Fresh fruit, cut up veggies and nuts are a must. Instant oatmeal is great for early morning breakfasts on the go (simply add hot water to a thermos cup). Other options are avocados and fresh bread, par-cooked veggies or salads. To make sure I get my daily dose of greens, I like to bring along super greens powder to add to juice or water. Support your digestion. Traveling can easily upset digestion. These are some ways I support my digestion while traveling:
Support your sleep. Do you find it hard to sleep in new places? I am a sensitive sleeper. These are the strategies I use to sleep soundly when I'm traveling:
Stick to a routine. No matter where I am, I follow the same morning and evening routine. My routine helps me feel at home wherever I am. These are habits for the morning and evening routine that will keep you grounded and centered anywhere on the planet:
Do yoga. A few poses every day while traveling will help your body feel comfortable and strong. Whether your travel includes lots of plane or car time, or lots of hiking, a few sun salutations in the morning or some supine poses in the evening will refresh, enliven and keep your body from getting stiff or sore. (Yoga on the go? Check out my free yoga resources. You can play them right from your smartphone.) Use essential oils. Essential oils are great for travelers.
Happy Travels! |
Annie BarrettEducator, certified health coach, educator and yoga instructor. Search this website
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