My Summer Romance: Pitta Rising

Why Summer Feels So Intense—And What Ayurveda Says To Do About It

People have a love/hate relationship with summer.For some, the word evokes beach days, cold watermelon, and that first plunge into the ocean. For others, it means melting sidewalks, unrelenting sun, and the constant search for a shady spot.

Here’s the truth: both experiences are valid. And the reason they feel so different often comes down to your Ayurvedic constitution, or what we call in Ayurveda: your dosha.

What’s a Dosha—and Why It Matters in Summer

In Ayurveda, the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) combine to form three main energetic forces, or doshas:

• Vata – air + ether

• Pitta – fire + water

• Kapha – earth + water

Each of us is born with a unique combination of these doshas, which shape our temperament, body type, digestion, and emotional tendencies.

Curious about which dosha is most dominant in you? Click here to learn more

Summer = Pitta Season

Summer, by nature, is ruled by Pitta—the dosha associated with heat, drive, ambition, and transformation. Even in places like Alaska, summer is considered the fiery season relative to the local climate.

If your personal constitution already leans Pitta—if you:

• Get easily irritated or impatient

• Are prone to inflammation or acid reflux

• Sweat easily, even in gentle movement…

then you’re likely to feel extra fiery in the summer months. Ayurveda has a saying: “like increases like.” So, more external heat = more internal heat.

Even those with cooler constitutions (Vata or Kapha types) can feel the burn this time of year—especially if the world around them is also heating up politically, socially, or emotionally.

Discomfort is a teacher. Fire can burn, but it can also forge. And in Ayurveda, transformation often begins in the belly—your digestive fire, or agni, is the key to health. But digestion isn’t just about food. It’s about how you metabolize life—ideas, experiences, emotions, and yes, current events.

When the world feels like it’s burning, our job is to ask:What’s ready to be transformed?

5 Ayurvedic Tips to Stay Cool & Grounded This Summer

Whether you’re feeling a literal heatwave or just a metaphorical one, these practices help balance Pitta, soothe your nervous system, and help you stay clear, compassionate, and strong:

1. Do what you believe is right action

Nothing cools internal heat like integrity. Action guided by clarity and compassion softens reactivity and sharpens purpose.

2. Hydrate like it’s your job

Think coconut water, cucumber slices, herbal infusions, and minty lemonade. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods when you’re feeling overheated or irritable.

3. Protect your skin + energy

Wear light, breathable fabrics (linen is your friend), wide-brimmed hats, and natural sunscreen. Give yourself permission to slow down in the midday sun.

4. Meditate on healing

Spend time in silence or in guided meditations that invite compassion—for yourself and others. Fire burns brighter when left untended; meditation helps direct that fire into insight.

5. Prioritize cooling movement

Try restorative yoga, evening walks, moon-gazing, or a short breathwork practice. Gentle movement keeps your energy circulating without feeding the flames.

Wishing you a grounded, replenishing season—even if things are still heating up out there, you are not alone in the fire. You are rising through it.