I was taking one of my early summer mornings strolls in the forest.  As I was soaking in the shade of the quiet morning sun, I thought about seasons.  Seemingly, autumn, spring, and winter were mellow, but the summer seemed to hit us in one single day, with its quick-burning and growing energy yelling, “Go, go, go!” I imagined what kind of gender each season would be.  I thought of the spring as a young girl, autumn as a young woman, winter as a beautiful Russian queen, and summer as a fairy gal – a goddess of summer!

Reflecting on this, I think balancing this energy with some coolness is essential.

With our busy modern-day schedules, it gets challenging to find this balance.  Especially, it seems more natural to follow the summer’s hot energy and pack more activities into a day.  This is where your daily yoga practice would be essential to slow down, exhale and reflect.  And by yoga practice, I don’t mean an hour or so of a gymnastics class, but rather a daily practice that includes meditation, reflection, and other disciplines.  And, of course, there is nothing like taking advantage of the season by spending more time in nature.

Top 10 ways to enjoy your Summer:

1.  Start your day with gentle movement practice like yoga or Pilates.

Consult your teacher to individualize the practice based on your needs, age, time, and abilities.

2.  Spend more time in nature.

Being outside in nature makes us feel more alive.

“Nature is fuel for the soul,”

says Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.

“Often, when we feel depleted, we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature,” he says.

So, spend more time in natural settings for your mental and physical health.  Combi Then, combine yoga practice and see how it will affect your mood and overall well-being.

3.  Practice mindful walking

Focus on the environment, trees, and walking instead of getting lost in your thoughts.

4.  Spice up your plate with dark leafy greens.

Add arugula, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, and mustard greens to your diet.

5.  Don’t chase the ice cream truck.

Cool treats aren’t the way to get relief from the heat.  According to Ayurvedic principles, it’s not a food’s temperature that makes it cool, but rather its innate qualities.  So the next time you’re feeling hot and uncomfortable, pass up the ice cream and fill your bowl with fruits and vegetables instead.  Try this delicious green goddess smoothie to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Dr. Scott Gerson from The Gerson Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine explained:

Most people do not realize it but our Katharina Agni (main digestive fire), and hence our hunger, is lower in the Grishma ritu (summer season). Therefore we should eat less. Reducing the intake of salty, pungent, and sour food items is ideal in summer.  Choose more light, unctuous, cold, and liquid items and indulge in predominantly sweet, bitter, and easily digestible foods. Fresh vegetable juice is an excellent choice in this season.
Bacteria grow faster in summer, and associated illnesses are usually at their peak during this season. Hence food items should be cooked carefully and correctly, especially in summer. For the same reason, leftover foods should be avoided altogether.
Fruits (ripe and sweet) and leafy green vegetables can be consumed more regularly than root vegetables. Examples: peaches, dates, mango, sweet cherries, avocado, various salad greens, and lightly steamed cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, arugula, bok choy, etc.)

6.  Reduce or eliminate heavy and hot meals.

Rather than filling up on rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, take advantage of the great recipes and the variety that veggies and salads offer.  Not only do they fill you up, but they don’t rely on as much flavoring to make them taste good.

7.  Take a break.

This could be anything from closing your eyes or shutting your door to a quiet surrender, taking slow breaths, or scheduling a mental or physical vacation.

8.  Try something new that scares but does not endanger you.

My sample platter: take a new dance class, rock climbing, hike, take a boxing class).

9.  Fire up your curiosity.

Allow your curiosity to guide you; you will always find something new -even in your own backyard.  Summer is a time to wander!

10.  Delve into the mystery of life itself

Observe changes in nature.  Look at the stars, see the sunrise.  Look at the stars.

Do you have any tips, please share them in the comments below.