By Lucy Clementson-Mills.
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term:
Ayurveda is a traditional healing system from India and helps us to understand our own unique physical and mental constitution.
Ayurveda teaches us that the body, mind and soul must be in balance in order to achieve optimal health.
It encourages us to live in harmony with both our internal and external environment by understanding the wisdom of the natural law.
Ayurveda is also the sister science to Yoga and these two sciences of self-healing and self-realisation form part of the teachings of the Vedas.
From an Ayurvedic perspective we are now coming into the Pitta season - the warmer, sunnier season. But if you are Pitta dominant and have this same heat within you, you may find the warmer months leave you feeling irritable, overwhelmed and stressed.
So how do you know if you are Pitta dominant?
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Are very motivated but can be a workaholic?
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Have a healthy, robust appetite
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Have excess heat in the body & can overheat during sleep
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Are competitive?
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Can be easily irritated
So, when it comes to a yoga practice to pacify Pitta and maintain balance, we want to encourage the opposite.
Why not try a practice which encourages calmness, relaxation & steadies the mind?
Asanas such as Trikona Asana, Vriksha Asana & Bala Asana to focus on your breath and connect to your body
Or try cooling yoga (hot yoga not advisable) & pranayama (breathing exercise).
Kaki pranayama and other cooling breathing practices can help if you’re feeling irritated or frustrated.
Slowing it right down so awareness of the connection between the mind, body & spirit can be realised.
Avoid yoga classes which may encourage competitiveness or comparison (think mirrors in the studio or levels in classes, such as “expert”).
Practice outside at the cool time of day / not in the sun or heat or practice by water.
There are many more tips for pacifying Pitta but when you think about your yoga practice, consider what is best for you. In a world full of comparison & striving for the best, the next thing, more; a slower & more relaxed yoga practice could be just what you need this Summer.
Many thanks and I look forward to hopefully sharing all things Ayurveda with you soon.
With loving kindness, Lucy
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Lucy is a certified Yoga Teacher and founder of YogaThree60.