In Ayurveda, Summer is considered the season of Pitta and this last Summer was certainly a great example of the fiery element that Pitta represents. Pitta has a variety of meanings in Sanskrit, but is most often referred to as that which transforms, shines, or consumes. Pitta is one of the three Doshas, or constitutional types, and is hot, intense, sharp, dynamic, sour, and fire-like. Fall is considered the Vata season of which Vata is light, dry, cold, mobile, subtle, and wind-like. As we transition from this time of Fire to a time of Wind, the practices that cooled us and sustained us during Summer, those practices that allowed us to reign in our hot natures, cool our palettes, and subdue tendencies of inflammation within us, are no longer appropriate. Let’s talk about what we did for Summer and see what we can add or remove for Fall.
In Summer, we sought to cool our beings from hundred degree weather while maintaining hydration, and balancing the Pitta qualities of lightness, heat, and oiliness. Following Dinacharya, or daily routines, we rose before the coolness of night was fully gone arising during the pre-dawn hours of Brahma Murta. During this morning stillness, one seeks to remove impurities or wastes first. According to Ayurveda, at least one bowel movement per day is necessary, not just for elimination of toxins, but also to prevent reabsorbing of toxins. Next, we brush the teeth and scrape the tongue while noting the thickness and quality of any coating as an indicator of Ama. We may have gargled with coconut oil and gently massaged our gums. Our meditation practice included balancing and cooling Pranayamas like Sitali or Anuloma Viloma and gentle matras to settle the mind and clear the third eye. Our exercise regimen consisted of swimming or walking in conjunction with Hatha yoga to help limber and stretch our beings. In this yoga practice, we favored fish, camel, boat, cobra, cow, and tree poses to soothe Pitta at the liver and small intestines and avoided head stands and other inverted postures. Morning bathing completed our morning purification combined with coconut or sunflower oil abhyingha rubbed all over the body. Lastly, we dressed in cotton or silk clothing and avoided the colors of fire, red, yellow, and orange. Diet-wise we made sure to not miss breakfast since it can proke Pitta later in the day, but from 10am onward we consumed apples, dates, pears, melons, plums, prunes, and consumed room temperature liquids. Sour fruits were avoided and lunch was light, but contained sweet, bitter, and astringent foods because of their Pitta pacifying nature.
In Fall, Vata changes the qualities of oiliness and heat found in Pitta, and transitions them to dryness and coolness. Both seasons and Doshas share lightness though Vata is even lighter than Pitta. For the next few months, as Vata predominates, our previous Pitta practices will not serve us. Since Vata is light, cool, dry, rough, variable, quick, and subtle, we will need the honor the opposite qualities to balance the season. It is also worth noting that stress, in our stressful Western Society, primarily manifests as Vata so balance during this season can be particularly important. The basic strategy is the honoring or warmth, moisture, noruishment, smoothness, slowness, regularity, and focus. In the context of dinacharya, this translates to several changes in practice. First, is that the discipline of Dinacharya becomes even more important as a general factor to balance Vata variability. In other words, hold fast to your daily discipline and your awareness despite your deep desires to give in to your impulses. For the Fall, we will still seek to awaken during Bhrama Murta, and lead with elimination, mouth purification, but here will might add Nasya oil taken in each nostril to add consistent internal oleation. Elimination should also be closely monitored as there can be a tendency towards constipation without proper intake of oils such as ghee, sesame, and olive oil. The morning gargle should be sesame oil instead of coconut or you can use a triphala tea made by steeping 1 tsp or triphala powder in a cup for 10 minutes and straining well. Triphala has the added benefit of stimulating the Apana sub-Vayu which helps balance all the Vatas (Vayus) in the body. Our morning shower should focus on heat and warmth and will begin with a sesame oil abhyingha making sure we have oil’s protection from head to toe. Our meditation practice will include alternate nostril breathing and deep stillness practices that settle the roughness and mobility of Vata in action. Exercises will still consist of walking and hatha yoga as recommended morning sadhanas. The yoga practice should focus on lotus pose, bends of any type, camel, cobra, and cat poses. Inversion and Sun Salutations done with smoothness and focus are also recommended. For calming Vata, a yoga session should always end with Shivasana (corpse pose) to allow one to sink into the qualities of earth, groundness, and wholeness. Colors for this season are red, orange, yellow, and white with fabrics that are warming, but also smooth such as silk and thick cotton. Diet-wise, breakfast becomes a very important meal during Fall because of its grounding qualities and adding ghee to any breakfast option brings additional grounding and smoothness. Raw apples and pears may work during Summer, but during Fall all fruits should be cooked and mixed with warming spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. General foods recommendations include basmatic rice, mung daal or kitchari, and steamed vegetables with a focus on cooked foods. Raw foods especially as Winter approaches are to be avoided. Sweet, sour, and salty foods are recommended during this season, but one must approach this with caution in our society depending on one’s dosha because sweet will quickly aggravate Kapha and sour will aggravate Pitta.
How one navigates transitions are key to Ayurveda because balance and proportion are not found in a vacuum, but in the context of a living breathing life. Summer is time of high activity and inner fire and we seek to balance that by honor coolness and steadfastness. Fall brings a deeping of lightness, but the inception of coolness and mobility in our environment. Bridging the two requires a change in our perspective and our daily practices so that balance stays with us. Using one Bhuddi or discernment is essential during any season and since subtlety is a quality of Vata, exercise it more and know that as you dance through the practices you are writing and exploring the manual of you, your individual constitution, and your individual path.
Rishi is a practicing Naturopath, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Instructor, and continual student of all thing Ayurveda with a growing practice at Kashi Atlanta. He is a student of many teachers including David Frawley and Swami Jaya Devi and resides in Candler Park with his tri-doshic family both human and canine. He is currently accepting appointments for Ayurvedic wellness consultations at www.anaturalpath.org
