passion pitta
we are comprised of the nature that surrounds us— as without, so within. we are elemental and just like nature transforms, evolves, and shifts— so, too, do our bodies. in ayurveda, we can fall out of balance both as we are born and as the result of the external stimuli on our body. we can characterize these faults via three doshas (or flaws). like the seasons, like the stages of life, like the progression of the day, we can differential three main categories: kapha, pitta, vata.
pitta is the dosha of fire, of heat, spice, pungency, of energy and activity, of sun and transformation. just like it sounds, pitta is embodied in the heat of summer, in the fire of our middle-life (from teenage years to retirement age), the midday sun, and the power of our digestion and perception.
pitta in balance
a transformative force, pitta in balance looks like strong digestion, solid build and purposeful drive. a pitta-type person can be competitive and strong-willed, singularly focused and ambitious. they are typically of a muscular build with healthy bones, clarity in their eyes and skin, and move with assuredness.
pitta out of balance
when pitta begins to rage unchecked, like a forrest fire without boundaries, we begin to see irritability, agitation, impatience, and volatility. like increases like, so pitta heat builds from the outside in and the inside out, burning up our fuel and leaving us (and nature) depleted just in time for the autumn season (vata time of year).
pitta in the body
pitta is embodied in our digestive enzymes and in our red blood cells. you can find pitta in the cellular level intelligence of our bodies mechanisms. pitta is in our liver and our gall bladder, hot organs that produce and store bile (which emulsifies the fat we eat). so when hotness increases hotness, these organs and systems are among the first culprits of fatigue and depletion.
as the seasons change, it’s useful to consider opposite qualities in our diet and routine to keep our systems relatively regulated so that our imbalances don’t progress into full blown disease. and, as always, if you’re uncertain about what to do to support pitta’s bodily process, reach out to your friendly neighborhood lifestyle consultant for help :)
Vata Season
Each year has two major season shifts— one in February and one in August. When August arrives, we notice days getting shorter, temperatures getting a little less predictable, and schedules fluctuating as well. Our bodies start to crave the preparation for the colder darker months. Vata season is a time of cold, dry, mobile, subtle, rough quality. The idea that like increases like and opposites balance acts a good benchmark to begin understanding balancing activities/qualities for the changes of the seasons.
Ayurveda understands the known universe through categorization of qualities. The doshas act as constitutions that make sense of who we are and as patterns of disease when they go out of balance. Doshas are just another system of categorization, embodied in our tissues, our bodies, our day-to-day, year-to-year and across each of our lifespans. In short, your intuition (and your gut) craves those things that will keep it in harmony with the season, you’ve just got to listen.
Lifestyle Suggestions
After the heat and the depletion of early Summer, our bodies begin to dry out— we run ourselves ragged. Much like the hot humidity of Summer turning into the cold dryness of Autumn, we burn up our ojas (juicy vitality) in the Summer and all that activity shrivels us up. One useful way to avoid this is by integrating oil massage into your routine. Abhyanga, or Ayurvedic oil massage, moisturizes our largest organ. The things we touch are absorbed into our skin and are transported directly to the circulatory system. Abhyanga keeps the body warm, skin supple, and helps with the increased fat intake that our bodies need for the coming winter months.
August is often the time right before school begins when folks desperately flee for last minute vacations before the arrival of Fall. Make time for ritual and regularity in feeding and sleeping schedules. This is vitally important to keeping our bodies grounded and consistent curing this time of change.
“The mind loves freedom but the body likes structure” and our circadian rhythms are more than just sleep cycles, they play a major part in digestion and over all endocrine function. When we know when we’re going to eat (and we honor those signals) our bodies ease out of mobile, subtle uncertainty and feel more grounded as well.
Autumn invokes the feeling of cool breezes, dried leaves, maybe a flurry or two, and increased darkness. The ground hardens and life shrivels up— we’re moved indoors to avoid the elements but it’s important to make time to spend in nature. We can wear warm clothing and build our body heat with activities like raking leaves or going for a run. Our bodies benefit from connecting with the electrical currents of the earths magnetic field. Spending time grounding is healing— it calms our sympathetic nervous system and supports immune health.
Baking and creating with your hands are fabulous activities to take up during this time of year. Putting your hands on tangible things helps with keeping us out of the conceptual clouds and grounded in reality.
Diet Staples
Ayurveda categorizes six major tastes— sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent. The latter half of the list have drying qualities while the former has moistening qualities. In a dried out time, tastes that increase moisture, increase heat in the body, and aid in retention are extremely useful.
Sweet taste is both liquifying and cold— sweetness that occurs naturally includes sweet potatoes, honey, apples, apricots, pears, gourds/squashes, avocado, fennel, red meats, etc. - any carbs/fats/proteins.
Sour is of fire and earth— warm and grounding. Sour tastes include citruses, berries, vinegars, cheeses and ferments, spinach. Sour is a secretagogue, so it encourages our body to liquefy and moisturize.
Salty is valuable in aiding in retention (and combating cold dieuresis). Mineral salts are preferrable over white table salt because they’ve retained some of their earthy/electron energetics which are valuable for the bodies electrical impulses— think potassium/seeds.
How This Effects You
The three doshas are embodied within and without, so Autumn is Vata season. Folks with Vata imbalance, or that tend towards Vata qualities, are irritated by the likeness of the season. For Pitta-imbalanced people, coming off of the summer aggravation, Autumn comes as a calm, cool welcome. Kapha, the cold/wet/heavy, time of year is just ahead, so Autumn is a fantastic time for people with Kapha imbalances to begin to plan strategies to keep their systems running efficiently in preparation for their season of aggravation.
Small steps to start finding balance are more valuable than expecting a ton of change and falling flat with none— so pick a few things, keep a few things in mind, and continue to give yourself grace on your journeys.
august in your body
summer is beginning it’s final hoorah and august signifies the beginning of vata season (dry, cold, light, mobile, etc). the arrival of august signifies a biannual shift in temperature as the weather starts to lean towards the cool darkness of fall and eventually autumn. perhaps you notice how the storms of august usher in cooler air much more readily than those of july. thus begins a time of delicately balancing our preparation for the cooler/darker months and the considerations for the heat and activity that we’ve been in the throes of for a few months.
lifestyle & routine
after the warmth of the earlier summer months have sweated out all of our moisture, august is a vital time to replenish electrolytes and moisturize so that we aren’t taken off guard come the turn of the season (just a few weeks away). take time to maintain solid oil massage routine (abhyanga) and hydration practices (aka this morning bev).
august ushers in a new routine as back to school season begins and vacation season winds down. regardless of where you are in life, this transition time means more traffic (with busses shuttling kids around and people firmly situated back in their work routines). inevitably, this change in energy asks for a change in routine to factor in new commute times, new weather patterns, and proper sunlight exposure. our circadian rhythms begin to fluctuate and these fluctuations lead to insomnia and poor recovery/rest.
the big take away from this time of transition is to dress properly for the weather (layer up for the cooler mornings/evenings), keep our bodies a bit warmer at bedtime (to counter the insomnia of late summer), and continue to prioritize a solid bedtime (and bed time routine) to keep the nighttime repair cycles on track and efficient.
diet staples
as within so without, and, as the season shift slides into place, our bodies start to crave the sweet and nourishing foods of autumn. coming off of the heatwaves of july, we are easily depleted, so building/fatty foods will lay a solid foundation for our pre-fall preparation. some examples of these foods include yogurt, beans, nuts, fish, root veggies, avocado, oils.
it’s also vitally important to continue staying hydrated with the summer heat still on and the body sweating throughout the day. hydrating with just water actually often turns into dehydration so liquid foods are a great opportunity to both hydrate and nourish. foods such as grapes, cucumbers, melons, peaches, tomatoes, and squashes are a great fit with their juiciness keeping us fueled with vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies running properly.
what’s next
summer is winding down and the days are getting shorter, so now is a good time to restore your energy and soak up the last bit of sun as you begin to lay the groundwork in your body for what’s to come. as always, reach out to your friendly neighborhood lifestyle consultant if you need a hand getting started.
morning marg
makes 32oz of electrolyte goodness
what you’ll need
32 oz glass jar
1 lime
a healthy pinch of salt
1/2 tbsp cilantro
how you’ll prepare it
mix it all up and refrigerate.
ways you can consume it
add a dash to some tequila in the evening
consume with psyllium husk in the morning
dessert rice
makes a week’s worth of breakfasts
what you’ll need
1 c dates, chopped
1 1/2 c basmati rice
1/2 c almonds
1 tbsp poppy seeds
cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, any warm and sweet herb
1 tbsp ghee
how you’ll prepare it
melt ghee on stove top (in pan, preferred)— add rice and mix til fully coated and aromatic.
add water and bring to a boil.
add chopped dates, almonds, and poppy seeds— bring to a simmer.
leave covered and toss seasonings in when water begins to reduce.
ways you can consume it
add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey w/ some craisins.
plate w/ cottage cheese and a drizzle of honey for a robust brekkie.
have for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.
tastes great cold or warm.