Wellness Tips for June
A close up picture of orange daylily flowers
Welcome to June! Summer officially begins on the Solstice, Sunday the 21st this year. With the summer heat just around the corner, here are some tips for Pitta (fire energy) season.
1-June is a great time for clearing clutter. Clearing clutter makes room for new treasures and treats in your life, you can even find new ways of being in the world when you create the space. Clutter comes in all forms, not just physical. Consider how you may be collecting old habits, thought patterns, worn out friendships, and other things that aren’t serving you or helping you be the best version of yourself. Time to consciously let go to make room for new things!
2-Eat locally and cooling foods. Eating from the Farmer’s Market is a great way to ensure you are eating seasonally. Nature provides the foods that help us to stay balanced, so fill your basket with greens, berries, melon, summer squash, cucumbers, lime, mint, cilantro, fennel, and basil. Not local, but very cooling is every part of the coconut. Drink or cook with coconut milk, water, the meat itself, and you can even use the oil as moisturizer/lotion.
3-Take evening walks after dinner. As summer heat ramps up, you may find that you’re hiding in the a/c more often. Getting outside every day is important! Research shows that spending as little as ten minutes a day improves symptoms caused by stress, depression, anxiety, and other issues. See the full article about the importance of being outside here.
4-Make a cooling spray. Add 1-2 teaspoons of witch hazel to 1 cup of distilled water in a spray bottle. Add 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 3-5 drops of lavender or rose essential oil and shake well each time you use it. The peppermint is cooling and refreshing to the body, while the lavender or rose calms a fiery pitta mind. Store in the fridge for extra cooling, and spray anytime you come in from the heat, or feel agitated. Avoid spraying in eyes.
5-Celebrate the Summer Solstice. This year the solstice happens on Sunday, June 21 at 4:24 a.m. The longest day of the year has long been a time of celebration in cultures throughout the world and through history. It’s a great time to have a special meal with friends and family, use the firepit, or create mandalas out of flowers and herbs.