In this article
Pitta Energies in the Kapha-dominant Spring Season
Lifestyle Adjustments & Yoga for Pitta
The Pitta Dosha
Pitta dosha is one of the three body constitutions in Ayurveda. Pitta is fiery, ambitious, and driven. When in excess or imbalance, pitta-dominant individuals can be aggressive, inflexible, or overly hot. We generally recommend our Cooling blend, which features organic Cardamom and several additional organic spices hand-milled to balance this energy, for individuals with a predominantly Pitta constitution.
Pitta Energies in the Kapha-dominant Spring Season
Pitta's light, sharp, and hot nature is generally calmed by the heavy, gentle, and cool qualities of the spring. But pitta’s liquid qualities can be aggravated by the abundance of moisture, and as the spring season progresses, increasing heat can also disturb pitta.
For pitta-predominant types, moisture and warmth will be the most important spring characteristics to balance. Here are some recommendations for supporting your constitution in the spring.
Spring Pitta-balancing Foods
In the spring, those with a predominantly pitta constitution will benefit from foods that counterbalance the moisture of the spring season. If the spring weather is also quite warm, it is important for pittas to balance that extra heat with a cooling and calming diet.- Balancing to both pitta and kapha, bitter and astringent foods like barley, beans, bitter greens, and lots of salads and vegetables are among your best options this spring.
- Other foods to favor include apples, berries, pears, soaked prunes, raisins, basmati rice, rice cakes, seitan, tapioca, and ghee.
- The cooler weather means that you might be able to tolerate a little more heat and spice than usual in your food. However, try to favor cooling spices that pitta tolerates well; some of these are: cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, mint, parsley, saffron, tarragon, turmeric, and vanilla. Remember to balance them carefully and not take any one in excess.
- We recommend the Cooling blend for Pitta, and in the spring, it can be good to add a drop of ghee in it.
- Caffeine can be especially dehydrating for the pitta constitution. Try Cooling blend Karha for a non-caffeinated, flavorful beverage.
Springtime Treats
This spring, you can enjoy some indulgences! Your best options will be sweets made from fresh fruit like Hanuman Karha-spiced baked apples, cobblers, or fruit crumbles. Try to avoid added sweeteners; nature provides plenty of flavor! When made with simple ingredients, these foods are sweet enough to satisfy pitta and kapha sweet-tooths, but also light enough to help the body with its natural effort to purify.
Lifestyle and Yoga
If your nature is pitta predominant, give yourself permission to slow down and relish the spring. Focused intentions are great, but you will probably feel an even deeper benefit if you practice flexibility in your approach to life this season. The following reminders will help you make the most of the springtime.
Meet your perfectionism with kindness
Pitta-types tend to approach all things with passion, intensity, and dedication. In excess, this energy can turn into perfectionism, or even self-criticism. Luckily, the softness of the winter lingers into spring and can be quite balancing for pitta’s sharp drive and ambition.
This is a great time to experiment with easing the pressure off and giving yourself flexility and understanding— even (or especially!) when it comes to your own level of performance.
Keep your exercise playful.
Keep it light and loose this spring. Enjoy your exercise, and do your best to do so with a light heart, rather than by activating your competitive streak. Focus on having fun, and be careful not to overheat. Keep water and rehydration fuel nearby.
For a pitta-balancing yoga practice*, incorporate plenty of standing poses, twists, and forward folds, while decreasing the number of inversions and inverted postures, which can increase pitta energy. We recommend these poses when aided by a knowledgable teacher who can help ensure safe practice. For pranayama, Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) is a good practice at this time.
Prioritize rest and quality sleep.
Throughout your day, try to strike a balance between routine and play, focused attention and relaxation. This is a time of year when you might get away with staying up later at night, but if you find yourself getting restless, try getting into bed around 10 p.m., or even a bit earlier.
A new start
This spring, celebrate a fresh start; all dosha types appreciate a surge of energy and hope for new beginnings. It is the season of renewal.
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*Please exercise caution with all pranayama and yoga practices. They are powerful tools and they should not be performed by individuals without proper training or with certain medical conditions. As always, if you attempt any exercise and experience discomfort or lightheadedness, stop immediately and seek medical attention.