June Wellness Habits
Summer has finally arrived!
June is a month of transition- from the growing season of Spring into the heat of Summer.
June is associated with the qualities of pitta & kapha- hot & humid. In order to stay balanced, focus of foods that are light, and drying and activities that are cooling and energizing. Read on for more details and tips.
As the temperature gets warmer and the season shifts to summer (solstice: June 20th), it’s best to begin emphasizing practices that cool the body and mind.
It’s very easy to over do it during the Summer, be mindful and choose to stay in balance.
Quick note…
Although it’s tempting, don’t crank the air conditioning. The body is meant to flow with the transitions of Nature and going from the heat of the outdoors to coolness indoors can through the body out of balance. Plus you’ll save on the electrical bill for the season.
In the Mind
It’s heart season! Similar to the feeling of falling in love, Summer brings a wave of symptoms such as racing heart, excessive sweating, obsessive thoughts, and the desire to connect.
With every degree the body increases, the hearts beats an additional 10 times per minute. This puts extra strain on the heart and can leaving you feeling more tired than usual.
Take time to tune in this month and feel into what’s going on in your body.
The heat can also bring more intense emotions, like anger, irritability, and frustration. Take the opportunity to be mindful and pause during your interactions, this can keep you from acting in impulsive ways.
On a more positive note, the heat can bring emotions like passion, and exuberance, an enthusiasm to take on every challenge! Be bold and lean into this courage- it does mean the “age of the heart” after all.
Photo by Cathal Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash
In the Body
The heat and humidity of June can lead to puffiness in the body. Enjoy diuretic teas like chamomile and mint to help rid the body of excess moisture.
This climate also allows for fungus and parasites to flourish, keep the body cool and reduce moisture to help prevent possible infections.
Hydration is essential this month. Although there is increased humidity, the rising temperatures puts extra stress on the heart and liver. Tune into your body and drink water only when you feel thirsty, this will help to keep the body in a healthy balanced state.
A delicious way to get your water in is to sip Rosewater Lemonade- see the recipe of the month below.
This drink will provide hydration, while the lemon replenishes electrolyte loss from increased sweating. Rosewater is an amazing way to soothe inflammation, and cool the mind and body.
If you don’t have access to rosewater, another option is to add a pinch of sea salt and 1/2 tsp of raw sugar to your lemon water and sip that throughout the day. Remember to drink only when you feel thirsty.
The heat can lead to an overworked, depleted and dehydrated liver which can make it difficult to sleep and can increase mental activity. Pay attention to your cheeks, if they appear rosy, this is a sign that your liver is working extra hard.
A stressed liver can lead to decreased detoxification, and in increase in acne and rashes as the temperature continues to rise. Consume aloe vera and bitter greens to help balance the accumulated heat.
Photo by Bindle Bottle on Unsplash
Daily Routine
A side from the importance hydration, during the Summer months it’s important to eat light, easily digestible meals. Digestion is actually at it’s weakest during this time, so make it easy on your body and keep it simple.
No one wants to be in the hot kitchen when the weather is so nice, and good news, you don’t have to. Summer is the perfect season for raw salads and smoothies.
But remember to keep it simple, you can put all the superfoods in, but that doesn’t mean your body will be able to digest and use those wonderful nutrients.
My suggestion is that you keep your smoothies to 5 ingredients or less and massage you greens with olive oil to increase digestibility.
Photo by Jugoslocos on Unsplash
Usually Ayurveda recommends eating your largest meal at lunch time because digestion is at its strongest.
However, in the Summer that’s not the case. Since digestion is actually at it’s weakest- because blood is pulled away from the core to prevent overheating- it is actually recommended that you eat during the cooler hours of the day, in the early morning and late evening while keeping lunch light and easy to digest.
Along with this, it’s also recommended that you exfoliate regularly. This helps to keep you feeling fresh and clean from the sweat and excess oils that are being released.
Food is Medicine
Allow your food to nourish you and keep you balanced.
Choose fruits like bananas which contain magnesium and potassium to replenish electrolytes, berries to support detoxification and pineapple and watermelon to reduce inflammation.
Turn your plate into your medicine cabinet and eat in a way that feeds you body, mind and soul. Check the grocery list below for more examples.
June Wellness Tips
Download these PDFs to access a complete wellness handbook containing:
Grocery list
Movement practices
Self-care practices
Recipe of the Month
Rosewater Lemonade is a refreshing substitute for iced tea on a warm summer’s day! Cooling rosewater soothes the mind and body, while lemon provides the needed electrolytes.
Rosewater Lemonade