It’s a typical summer weekend day. You’re sipping iced tea and strolling through the farmer’s market, but soon the temperature hits 90 degrees, your clothes stick to you, and you seek shade. Then your partner breathes very loudly, and you suddenly seem to be consumed by anger.
Sound familiar? If you’re feeling unusually angry, impatient, and angry over the smallest things this summer, this isn’t you. “It’s what contemporary science dubs”Heat hypothesisAnd what is considered the ancient science of Ayurveda Beta Aggravation. And you can feel as if you are powerless in front of her.
“While things are heating up outside, the functions of our organs are ‘warming up’ as well.”“ He says Sheila PatelMD, an Ayurvedic consultant. “This can manifest as heat in the body or in the mind as irritation.”
Beta time of the year, according to Ayurveda. Since it is associated with fire and transformation, we naturally emulate more of its qualities, including heat and intensity, when it is prevalent. As a result, summer temperatures can feel like they’re throwing off your usually pleasant mood.
research It shows a direct relationship between heat and human hostility. studies Show that hot weather leads to physiological arousal, with heart rate and cortisol levels rising. When your body is working hard to keep you calm, your brain’s work takes a backseat. Your emotional strength is compromised, your response to threats increases, and suddenly you have zero tolerance for even the simplest inconveniences in life. one He studies It shows that as ice cream sales rise, crime rates also rise.
According to Ayurvedic traditions, when pitta energy becomes excessive, it affects not only the body. It is also manifested by irritability, judgment, and short temper.
But making some simple changes to your lifestyle can help you reduce the irritation that strains your calm.
Staying cool and composed means more than just staying inside with the air conditioner blasting.
Love a sweaty workout? You don’t need to give up your routine in the summer, but high-intensity exercise can wear it out quickly Your internal temperature and cortisol levels rise
Ayurveda encourages working with your body, not against it, throughout the warmer season. Ideally, you should focus on doing less and resting more. This means avoiding intense exercise almost entirely at this time of year, perhaps by choosing to walk instead of run or replace a hot vinyasa class with a slower yoga class. If that’s not satisfactory, you can do these heart-pumping exercises, but do them indoors during the cooler hours of the day, such as early morning or late evening.
2. Hydrate wisely
Drinking ice water may seem like it quenches your thirst, but it doesn’t hydrate you as efficiently as you might expect. research It supports what Ayurveda teaches, which is that cold water slows down digestion due to your body needing to expend extra energy to warm the water before absorbing it. This (ironically) creates more internal heat.
Instead, take a tip from Ayurveda and soak in cool, room-temperature water with peppermint, which modern science suggests can have a calming effect. .
The hours when the sun is almost directly overhead are controlled, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Beta. It is best to avoid very strenuous and stressful tasks, including strenuous exercise, during this time. Relegate these to the cooler hours of the day.
4. Take an afternoon nap
Ayurvedic tradition recommends taking a short afternoon nap in the summer. according to Nidhi Bhansali Pandyaan Ayurvedic practitioner, says a short nap at this time of year is beneficial because “ Pandya
In addition, contemporary science shows that sleeping for 10 to 30 minutes in the afternoon can lead to Which may make you less susceptible to heat frustration.
You can always try Savasana, the “cool down” pose at the end of yoga classes, during particularly hot moments. Lying still for even five minutes in the antiquities can lower your heart rate and core temperature. Plus, it’s an opportunity to help your mind, not just your body, fully surrender.
6. Breathe calmly
When extreme heat starts to test your patience, you can use your breath as a thermostat to control your internal temperature. In Ayurveda, the cooling breathwork exercise Sitali pranayama It is considered to be air conditioning for your nervous system. Scientific research seems to support this. A He studies It is shown that cold breathing can reduce stress and irritation-causing beta waves and increase relaxation-promoting alpha waves.
Although you can’t control the temperatures outside, you can turn to science-backed Ayurvedic wisdom as you try to control your reactions and align with the more patient version of yourself.
