Two years ago, if someone had asked Steffy Mathew, 32, an IT professional from Hyderabad, about her preferred season, she would have undoubtedly shared her love for winter and expressed her disdain for summer.
“Adapting to seasonal changes has never been easy for me. Summer discomforts, such as prickly heat, skin rashes, urinary infections, excessive sweating, acne breakouts, and sleep disturbances, made it particularly difficult,” says Mathew.
Summer undoubtedly brings the joy of indulging in cool drinks, ice creams and mangoes. Yet, it is also a season when prickly heat, dehydration, skin rashes, and other health risks are rising—precisely what Mathew dreaded.
Gradual adaptation to summer
Determined to win the war against summer skin woes, she consulted an ayurveda expert who explained the body’s unique needs across seasons. “According to the physician, I am a pitta person and need extra caution during summers (as summer is a pitta season) to keep my body in balance,” she says.
Following a tailored regimen of dietary and lifestyle adjustments, Mathew now finds that summer can be both calming and rejuvenating. She follows some ayurveda summer practices like yoga stretches, summer pranayama, evening walks and proper hydration; consumes seasonal fruits like mangoes, papayas and watermelons, and cooling drinks; and practises refreshing rituals such as ice rolling, coconut milk skin care and foot massages.
“Individuals with different ayurvedic constitutions experience summer differently. Vata and kapha types often revel in the warmth. In contrast, pitta types may crave cooler temperatures for comfort,” says Dr Vishnu Priya AV, senior health advisor, Vieroots Wellness Solution, Kochi.
In ayurveda summer is considered the vata– pitta season, characterised by intense heat. To mitigate the ill effects of this season, experts suggest following the principles of ritucharya, or seasonal routines and some ayurvedic tips for summer.
Seasonal regime
The seasonal regime includes changes in diet, exercise patterns, sleep habits, and behaviour in response to seasonally observed environmental changes.
The recommended seasonal adjustments come naturally to some people, and these simple changes can bring a balance.
“The primary focus throughout the summer months should be to keep bodily pitta or fire energy balanced by staying cool, relaxing and following a pitta-balancing diet and routine,” says Dr Swapna Madhavan, ayurveda expert, Bengaluru. At the same time, summers also bring in vata or air energy. As such, we must be well hydrated and maintain our body’s vata balance by following regular meals and meal timings.
Digestion and physical strength decrease in the summer. Ayurvedic experts recommend a nourishing and hydrating diet to maintain digestion and prevent loss of strength due to dehydration.
“During summer, indulge in sweet, bitter and astringent flavours and prefer cool, liquid, and mildly oily foods,” says Dr Madhavan. Light, easily digestible meals help support the agni or digestive fire. Cold milk, butter, ghee, cheese, buttermilk and homemade yoghurt or curd are best during summer months.
Summer fruits
Ayurvedic experts recommend pulpy and juicy fruits—such as phalsa (parushak) and Gmelina (gambhari)—that are rich in water content during this season, as they help to balance the bodily pitta. Phalsa (parushak), Gmelina fruit (gambhari), mangoes, avocados, berries, cherries, tender coconut, grapes, limes, oranges, melons, pineapples, and plums are good choices. However, avoid highly spicy foods like chillies and peppers.
Beverages to beat the heat
Drink plenty of buttermilk, lime and tender coconut water to replenish hydration levels. Drink cool or room-temperature water infused with herbs like mint, and a little unrefined sugar. Hydrating drinks include cooling herbal teas such as peppermint or rose petals, cold soups, raw mango drinks, and fruit juices. Experts recommend avoiding ice-cold beverages as they may disturb our digestive fire.
Ayurveda summer skincare rituals
Before a bath, massage the skin with a pitta-soothing oil such as coconut oil to calm the nervous system and cool the body. Cooling ubtans like sandalwood paste, aloe vera or vetiver (khus) root powder can be applied to the body before your bath to keep the skin hydrated. Also, wash and dry your feet in the evenings and massage them with a moisturiser or coconut oil. This technique will draw the heat down and provide a sound sleep.
Exercise and yoga
Summer is a season to start your physical fitness and be physically active. However, take care to only exercise at appropriate times and with the right intensity. Our body’s strength is low in this season; as such, we must only exert half the usual effort while exercising. Do not overstrain or sweat too much. Always close your exercise or yoga sessions with a few minutes in savasana (corpse pose). This pose helps to balance your energy and keep your body relaxed and cool. Summer days are longer than nights, so midday naps are allowed, preferably two hours after meals.
Herbs for summer care
Cooling herbs balance the fire energy and can be especially beneficial during this season. Experts recommend herbs like Indian gooseberry, neem, aloe vera, brahmi, shatavari and giloy for summer months.
Be cool this summer
With this knowledge of ayurvedic practices, transform your relationship with the season and prepare to greet each summer with a joyful heart and a healthy body.
