Greeshma: Summer’s Call to Soften, Slow, and Cool
In Ayurveda, Greeshma Ritu—the summer season, spanning mid-May to mid-July—is marked by rising temperatures, long days, and the sharp brilliance of Pitta dosha. The fire element dominates, drying the body’s inner waters and thinning our reserves. To live in balance during this time is to honor what is tender, to move lightly, and to cool the system from within.
This is not a season for pushing forward, but for listening inward. Ayurveda teaches us that the body is nature, and summer’s wisdom calls us toward replenishment, not depletion.
A Seasonal Invitation: Cooling the Inner Flame
Eat with the season’s breath
Favor foods that are sweet, light, and hydrating. Think watermelons, ripe mangoes, pomegranate, cucumbers, asparagus, and leafy greens. Add coconut water or soaked chia seeds to your day for nourishment that meets the heat with softness.
Sip wisely and often
Make hydration a devotional act. Drink room-temperature water throughout the day, or infuse it with cooling herbs like fennel seed, mint, rose petals, or coriander. Herbal teas—like peppermint, tulsi, hibiscus, or lemongrass—can refresh and reset the nervous system.
Favor simplicity in meals
Choose foods that are gentle on digestion: well-cooked grains, lightly steamed vegetables, mung dal, or a fresh rice salad with lime and herbs. Keep spices soft—use mint, basil, cilantro, and cardamom. Avoid deep-fried, heavy, or overly spiced dishes.
Limit heat-producing substances
Spicy chilies, garlic, excessive salt, alcohol, and caffeine increase internal heat and dryness. A small amount may be tolerated by some, but the summer body thrives best on moderation.
Daily Rhythms for Greeshma Balance
Protect your energy
Avoid peak heat hours between 10 am and 4 pm when possible. If outdoors, seek shade. Cover the head and wear cooling fabrics—cotton, linen, or light silk. Let your clothing breathe as your body seeks release.
Nourish through touch
Begin your day or unwind your evening with self-massage using cooling oils—coconut, sunflower, or brahmi—to soothe the nervous system and restore the skin’s moisture. This gentle ritual helps buffer the overstimulation that summer often brings. On days when you feel sluggish or sticky, consider Urdwarthanam—a traditional Ayurvedic dry herbal scrub. Made with cooling, invigorating powders like sandalwood, rose, alma, or neem with ground green dhal. Use upward massage promotes circulation, exfoliates, and offers a refreshing alternative to oil on especially hot mornings. Always follow with a cool or lukewarm shower.
Invite ease into movement
Let your movement mirror the season—slow, fluid, intentional. Practice gentle yoga or walking meditation in the early morning. Include cooling pranayama like Sheetali or Chandra Bhedana to soothe both body and spirit.
Create a restful environment
Sleep is essential repair. Keep your sleeping space cool, dark, and quiet. Use a cotton sheet and allow the body to settle into deep rest. If you wake with heat or restlessness, try massaging the feet with a drop of brahmi oil.
Soothe the senses
Incorporate aromatics that cool and anchor: sandalwood, rose, vetiver, jasmine. Place a drop on your temples, spritz rose water onto your sheets, or add a few drops to a clay diffuser during evening stillness.
Gentle Guidance from the Season Itself
Garnish your meals with fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to aid digestion and refresh the palate.
Take time for stillness in nature—rest beneath a tree, walk barefoot at dusk, or sit beside a body of water.
Listen to your body’s early whispers—if you're tired, rest. If you're thirsty, drink. If your mind feels fiery, step away from stimulation.
Summer doesn’t ask us to burn brighter—it invites us to cool, clarify, and remember what sustains. The more we soften, the more we feel. The more we align, the less we resist. May this Greeshma bring you into a deeper rhythm with your own breath, your own body, and the tender wisdom of the natural world.
With love,
Sheila
painting : Jamuna by Kshitindranath Tagore