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According to Ayurvedic seasonal cycles, summer is considered to be Pitta season, where the energetic principles of fire and water are strongest. It is during summer that Pitta dosha, inherently driven by solar force, is most predominant, as it is comprised of the fire and water elements.

Pitta dosha is the expression of radiant energy, both within our bodies and in the universe.  As we move in and out of the Summer Solstice it is a time where the Earth is receiving the most sun, heat and radiant energy thus bringing the qualities that are sharp, hot, bright, and penetrating.  We mostly feel the drying effects of this time of year via the hot sun and for some areas dry winds as well.  Ayurveda considers this a time of dehydration that occurs both inside and outside the body. Following the principle of like increases like we follow a summer guide based on Pitta pacification measure to balance what is predominant in our environment.

“During the summer there is enhancement of katu (pungent) taste, the roughness and weakness in the body is severe” Charka Samhita Sutrashtana VI:6

The key qualities or gunas of Pitta are hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, slightly oily and fleshy smelling.  When these attributes build up within the body due to wrong diet and lifestyle, Pitta accumulates and begins to manifest various imbalances.  This imbalances can more easily arise in the summer whether you are of Pitta prakriti or not.  However, for those with Pitta in their constitution this season is an especially sensitive time of the year for you because during the summer season, due to the hot quality, Pitta people become more susceptible to heat related ailments.

JOIN MARIA AT SONIC MAY 31ST-JUNE 2ND WITH HER AYURVEDA & AYURYOGA WORKSHOPS

Signs of Inceased Pitta in the Body Include:

~ Excessive Body Heat

~Heartburn

~ Hyperacidity

~ Peptic Ulcers

~ Acne

~ Irritation, impatience, anger, frustration,

~ Skin Rashes

~ Diarrhea

~Early graying of the hair of falling hair

The Pitta person is prone to a low tolerance for heat, sunshine, or hard physical work.  When out of balance emotionally, the sharp quality of Pitta arouses aggression, irritability, anger, hatred, judgment, criticism, and jealousy.  Special care must be taken in order for them to remain cool, calm and peaceful.  In general, to balance Pitta, we learn to apply its opposite qualities to any given imbalance.  For example, if a person has eaten chili peppers, making their mind sharp and agitated we counterbalance with cooling foods, remedies and practices.

“During the summer, the sun evaporates the moisture of the earth by its rays.  In that season, the intake of sweet, cold, liquid, unctuous diets and drinks are prescribed.

One should further avoid taking diets that are salty, sour, pungent, or hot.  Physical exercise is a lot to be given up during this season.”

Charka Samhita Sutrashtana VI: 27-32.

Diet

Due to the strong properties of the sun and the body’s need to stay cool and release internal heat Ayurveda correlates this in terms of internal Agni in the body.  Meaning that Agni is pulled to the extremities to keep the body cool and therefore digestive Agni is compromised weakening our digestive capacity.  That is why in the summer we are often less hungry and want to eat less. So it is good to eat lighter and smaller meals during this time of year.

Increase sweet, bitter, and astringent tasting foods that are light in nature.  Eat plenty of bitter salad greens such as lettuce, arugula, radicchio, basil, and endive are particularly Pitta balancing. Include cool drinks and raw foods in the diet, including cucumber, mango and coconut water. Natural fruit juices without added sugar, mint teas, and raw berries are good choices.

Reduce sour, salty, and pungent tastes

Favor:  coconut water, watermelon, cilantro, leafy greens, okra, zucchini, asparagus, olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, ghee, cucumber, soaked/peeled almonds, kale, broccoli, pomegranate, apples, cranberry, mint.  Dill, fennel,  cardamom, coriander, saffron.

Avoid: tomatoes, eggplant, chili peppers, garlic, dry ginger, black pepper, fermented foods, spicy foods, sour fruits, heavy protein, mustard oil, molasses, coffee.

As for alcohol beer is better then wine and hard alcohol and drink plenty of water to off –set the drying and heating nature of alcohol.  Also best to avoid daytime drinking and wait until the sun goes down.

Exercise Lightly

To prevent excess Pitta from accumulating in the physiology, we should enjoy light exercise during the summer. We must not overdo any form of vigorous aerobic exercise, since that would overheat us and aggravate Pitta. Therefore avoid long-distance running, spinning, and other forms of exercise that heat the body.

Recommended exercises include those that are more cooling:  Lunar Yoga, tai chi, walking, swimming, bicycling, restorative Yoga, etc.  Avoid exercising during the hottest time of the day between 11 am and 3 pm and favor early morning or sunset exercise.

Favor yoga asanas that remove excess heat from the body instead of building heat.  Forward bends, twists and mild backbends are the best peak asanas for this time of year.  Use caution with inversions, arm balances and standing asanas that build too much heat as it is important to counter-pose any heat building during this time of year.

Pitta Aromas, Herbs, and Daily Routine

In Ayurveda, aromas of essential oils and resins derived from plants are used to pacify aggravated doshas (bioenergies).

The following essential oils are recommended for Pitta season: sandalwood, rose, lavender, jasmine, lotus, gardenia, khus, and vertivert.  Having a rose water mister is a wonderful refresher for the face and body

It is often wise to supplement our diets with one or more gentle and cooling herbs during Pitta season to maintain proper digestion, elimination, and to prevent excessive accumulation of hot, light, and mobile energies. In addition, Pitta season can create conditions for inflammation and over-activity of certain metabolic processes and secretions.

Lifestyle Recommendations

Since the stomach, liver and skin are the principle seats of Pitta dosha, simple cleansing techniques aimed at these regions are commonly employed in the summer months.

~ Upon awakening, do some yoga asanas, including Chandra Namaskar.  The emphasis throughout your practice can be on surrendering, forgiving, softening and being gentle with yourself – a cooling, grounding sadhana.

~ Spend time outside before 10 am and after 5 pm.  Avoid being outdoors during the hottest times of the day.

~ Practice cooling pranayama after your asanas.  Either Shitali pranayama or left-nostril breathing will cool and calm the hot quality of pitta dosha.  Be sure to release any remaining internal heat from within the body before meditation.

~ Give yourself a slow and loving full body massage before taking a shower.  Use Pitta massage oil, Coconut oil or Sunflower Oil.

~ Essential oils of rose, sandalwood, jasmine or lavender are cooling

~ Drink a tea of cumin, coriander, fennel and rose to pacify the hot quality, improve digestion and calm the mind. Mint tea.

~ Wear clothing of light texture and color.  Excellent choices would be cotton, linen and silk of white, blue and green.  Red and yellow shades tend to increase the fire that is already present.

Maria Garre is dedicated to a life-long study, practice and teaching of both Yoga and Ayurveda.  Celebrating over 20 years of study in Medical and Biological Sciences, Philosophy, Ayurveda and Yoga, Maria’s teachings offer a grounded yet transformative approach to living, being, and embodying Yoga. Blending the knowledge she has gathered from her studies with her yearly trips to India, she leads dynamic, liberating classes and trainings that embody the alchemy of all these disciplines and teachings.  She is currently on faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute teaching under Dr. Vasant Lad. She continues to work alongside Shiva Rea’s Samudra School for Living Yoga where she serves as the Director of the Living Ayurveda Consultation Program in addition to serving as the Yoga Director for numerous Prana Flow Teacher Training programs in the USA, Canada and Japan.

JOIN MARIA AT SONIC MAY 31ST-JUNE 2ND WITH HER AYURVEDA & AYURYOGA WORKSHOPS

Ayurvedic Nutrition: Agni, Digestive Fire with Maria Garre

Fri: 5/31/2013 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

In Ayurveda the concept of Agni, our digestive fire is central and most important for healthy, vital and vibrant living. Agni is responsible for internally cooking and processing of food into nutrient that the body can use to nourish, protect and generate tissues and compounds to maintain health and energy. How we metabolize, assimilate and absorb what we eat and transform food into energy for the body is based upon the strength of Agni. This workshop will cover the various roles of Agni in the body, how to asses the state of your Agni and ways to balance your digestive fire. $40 or $35 for TT or Grad

Ayurvedic Nutrition: Energetics of Food with Maria Garre

Sat  6/1/2013 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

According to Ayurveda all food can be analyzed according to rasa (taste), virya (potency) and vipaka (post-digestive effect). Instead of using the food pyramid, which categorizes foods, Ayurveda analyzes food based upon its energetic effects using the five element model. Learn to understand how food affects not only our physical anatomy, but also our mind and pranic body. Recognize the reasons why certain foods nourish and don’t nourish you based upon your needs and imbalances. $65 or $60 for TT or Grad.

Sun: 6/2/2013  @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

AyurYoga, created by Vasant Lad of the Ayurvedic Institute is a unique class blending classical Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Mudra and Meditation practices to harmonize the mind, body and soul following basic Ayurvedic principles. $40 or $35 for TT or Grad

The Yoga of Food: Ayurvedic Nutrition Based on the Doshas with Maria Garre

AHAM PREMA with Lauren Hanna
Wed 5/15/2013    @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
with Lauren Hanna
& Thomas Wave on live sitar of Divine Love & the Radiant Heart

Created by Shiva Rea, Radiant Heart is a powerfully
transformational ritual practice of mudra, mantra,
pranayama, kriya and backbending postures.
Together we will dive into the healing power of the
heart field, release stress patterns and enter into
a state of flow with the rhythms of the heart. This
process allows for an incredibly deep heart opening
experience that will deliver you into a state of
bliss and divine love.

Regular class drop In $19, class card or membership

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As we busy New Yorkers plow through our daily lives, we often move so quickly – and with such focus – that we fail to notice the transformation that is taking place all around. At least that’s been the case with me, as I recently found myself wondering just how and when we had left winter and arrived in a full-blown spring!

Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, growth and vitality. And just like the buds and shoots that have emerged on the trees around us, slowly but surely our own bodies have begun to re-awaken to our innate vibrancy, the remnants of winter melting away.

With it’s emphasis on heart-opening and the way in which it mirrors the blooming flowers of spring, Urdhva Dhanurasana seemed an appropriate choice for the month of May! Backbends open up the heart chakra, stimulate the nervous system, and often leave us feeling energized and radiant.

As you play with the pose over the course of the month, allow nature’s process to be your guide. Like the earth, the body must be adequately warmed and prepared for growth to begin. Take a moment to pause before you enter the pose to harness your seed-like potential. Feel your connection to the earth through your arms and your legs. Root down through both hands and feet and let that grounding allow your heart to slowly unfurl, blossoming open toward the warmth of the sun.

AT PLAY WITH THE RADIANCE SUTRAS with Lorin Roche And Camille Maurine

Sat  4/27  @  11:30 am – 6:30 pm

Immerse yourself in love-drenched meditation and movement. During this weekend, we explore the luminous teachings of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, an ancient text that describes 112 awareness practices for touching the sacred in the midst of daily life. THE RADIANCE SUTRAS is a musical, sensuous translation of this tantra by Lorin Roche, who has lived and breathed these yogas for forty years. The Sutras evoke a world of wonder, awe, and delight. The focus of this workshop is on full-body spirituality ~ accepting every breath, sensual experience, and emotion as a doorway into deep and intimate contact with the energies of life. The practices include mudra (energy gestures), pranayama (breath), mantra (sound), and dhyana (meditation). Anyone can practice these methods. The emphasis is on naturalness, spontaneity, and being at home in the universe. You meet yourself wherever you are, whether you are restless, lonely, loving, tired, excited, nostalgic, or quiet. This workshop is an opportunity to dive into the Sutras that are calling you and receive coaching from Lorin and Camille to make them your own, so that you can embody, move and breathe this luscious reality. 6hrs. $120

THE ART OF TEACHING MEDITATION with Lorin Roche And Camille Maurine

Sun  4/28  @  1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

This is a workshop devoted to the skills of meditation and teaching meditation.Meditation and yoga go together and flow together. Asana and pranayama prepare the body for meditation. We can think of meditation as internal yoga, an inner asana flow. Because meditation is internal, there is no one to watch or imitate, so we need to be gentle and follow our instincts.

All human beings have the ability to meditate. Meditation is a name we give to a universe of techniques for accessing our own innate ability to heal, rejuvenate, and be in love with life. Meditation is intimacy with life. Practicing can feel as natural as breathing. The techniques are ways of perceiving and delighting in the life essence at play in us as prana. When we find the internal styles and practices that match our inner nature, our prakriti, then meditation feels natural and we relish our experience. Meditation becomes an internal vacation and healing Temple that helps us balance our energies and prepare for loving action.

The English word “meditation” encompasses four limbs of Yoga – pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. These are all natural motions of attention. A meditation teacher needs to be perceptive and supple to cooperate with life’s impulse toward enlightenment.

In this workshop you have the opportunity to explore a variety of different approaches and find what works for you, and also learn from other people what works for them. You get to practice creating meditations for yourself and for others, and guiding them in the process. 5hrs. $100 drop in

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