Meditation is one of those buzzwords that is starting to pop up in more of our daily lives on tv and social media, and for good reason. Pop culture often presents meditation as someone burning incense, sitting on a meditation pillow dressed in organic linens, soft music playing in the background, thumb and pointer fingers pressed together with eyes closed while chanting ‘OM’. As nice as all of this sounds, it is usually unrealistic. This is often why it becomes an overlooked activity only few recognize and practice as part of daily self-care, or rather, mental hygiene.

It is almost a certainty that when you hear the word Ayurveda, it will also be paired with the word nature, rhythm, or routine. This is because Ayurveda has been around thousands of years before us and I’d venture to guess that it will remain long after us as well. It is a science that has stood the test of time of healing many inside and out.

Summer represents the hot, bright, sharp qualities of pitta, so our diet and lifestyle should be modified to balance this energy. In nature, Pitta is like the sun’s heat, giving light and transforming things. Pitta helps us to think, discriminate (make decisions), be confident, have clear vision, speak to the point, see different colors, digest food, maintain body temperature, protect from excess heat and cold, and gives luster to the skin.