From an Ayurveda perspective, Summer can be aggravating to Pitta. Think of cooling foods, not cold foods like ice, but cooling foods like cilantro, coriander, fresh fruit, cucumbers, and mint tea.

You could think of different pranayama practices we have done in class. Shitali is a good one. Close the lips down to the shape of an “O” and curl the sides of your tongue through the “O”. You can inhale slowly over your curled tongue, close your mouth and exhale through your nose, or try both inhale and exhale over the tongue. Remember that Pitta is hot and humid as a dosha, so when it is hot and humid outside that can aggravate what is going on inside. By using Shitali breath, we are inviting cool dry Vata to the party and usually that Pitta part of us will begin to cool down and dry out a bit as well, just like your tongue as you are breathing.  Usually between altering the food and flavors you take into your body as well as how you breathe during these hot times, the overall effect on the body will be a sense of cooling down.