Strength training

Strength training is vital for our overall well-being, especially as we age. It not only strengthens muscles and bones 💪, reducing the risk of injury, but also keeps our minds sharp 🧠. Summer is the perfect time to take your workout outdoors! 🌞 Many municipalities have created fantastic outdoor gyms, allowing you to train your whole body effectively—completely free of charge. A well-rounded program targeting all key muscle groups might include:

1. Squats with a log

2. Deadlifts with a log

3. Pull-ups (or back pulls with a bar) 

4. Bench press with a log

5. Shoulder press with a log

6. Dips between bars or against the edge, depending on your capability

7. Sit-ups in a plank with an appropriate incline

8. Hanging from a bar for as long as comfortable, which helps relieve spinal pressure and builds hand strength—an important indicator of longevity. 🧘‍♂️

Embrace the challenge and let these exercises elevate your fitness journey! Good luck! 🍀

Swimming

Swimming is an ideal form of exercise, especially in the summer ☀️. It gently activates the whole body, providing a refreshing experience 🌊. Unlike many other workouts, swimming cools you down, which is perfect during the pitta season 🌡️. This summer, embrace the opportunity to swim outdoors in the stunning beauty of nature 🌅, which captivates the eyes, uplifts the spirit and is particularly useful for pitta, which is connected to the sense of sight✨. Enjoy the freedom of avoiding chlorine found in pools, which isn't ideal for pitta 🚫. Just be mindful of jellyfish in the sea 🐙, as they can create acute and unpleasant temporary pitta imbalances. Apart from that, seize the moment to dive into the joy of healthy swims in our beautiful waterways 🏊‍♀️.

Fresh herbs

 In the summer ☀️, fresh herbs 🌿 are abundant, and you might even be cultivating them yourself. According to Ayurveda, these vibrant herbs are a source of health and vitality 🌱. During the pitta season, embrace the cooling qualities of dill, parsley, fennel, and coriander 🥗 to nurture a sense of calm and happiness 😊. Plus, their delightful flavours elevate every meal! 🍽️

Food for balancing summer pitta

In my previous post, I shared that sweet, juicy fruits like melons 🍈, pears 🍐, and grapes 🍇 are excellent for balancing pitta in summer. What other foods can create balance? Generally, sweet, bitter, and astringent flavours work wonders to suppress pitta, while salty, sour, and strong flavours can stir it up. 

Embrace the goodness of squash 🎃, cucumber 🥒, pumpkin 🎃, fennel, asparagus, artichokes, rice 🍚, olive oil 🫒, and ghee. Coconut 🥥 in all its forms is a powerful pitta suppressant, as is aloe vera. Milk 🥛 can also be a nourishing choice; just remember to enjoy it boiled and warm (but not hot), ideally with a pinch of cardamom. Avoid pairing milk with vegetables, meat, or fish for the best results. 

This summer, savour these foods and remember to choose those that bring you joy! ✨

Fruits for pitta

 As the summer days heat up ☀️, it's important to keep the pitta dosha in harmony. Embrace the sweetness of juicy fruits 🍉🍐🍇 like melons, pears, and grapes to bring balance and calmness back into your life. When you feel overheated and irritable 😤, these delicious choices can make life easier for you, as well as for those you meet 🤩

International Yoga Day

As we gather to celebrate the summer solstice ☀️, we also embrace the beautiful occasion of International Yoga Day! 🧘‍♀️ In the Western world, yoga is often primarily viewed through the lens of physical postures, or asanas. However, yoga is a much deeper journey. The word "yoga" translates to "union," symbolising our path to recognising our individual waves as the entire vast ocean of existence—the universe. 🌌

The esteemed Yoga Sutras, penned by the wise sage Patanjali, introduce us to the enlightening eight-limbed path of yoga, known as Ashtanga Yoga. While physical postures are undoubtedly significant, they are merely the tip of the iceberg! 🧊 This path encompasses vital elements such as ethical living, breathing techniques 🌬, and practices aimed at transcending our everyday experiences, as in Transcendental Meditation. 🧘‍♂️

Though we often emphasise the benefits of yoga in stretching the muscles and improving flexibility, it's vital to appreciate how these exercises also connect us to the deeper rhythms of the universe. 🌍 The various postures not only invigorate but also cleanse our organs, supporting our internal health. Scientific studies affirm the multitude of health benefits that arise from regular yoga practice. 📊

This year’s theme for International Yoga Day, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” resonates powerfully in our contemporary world. 🕰️ As our populations age, maintaining our health is increasingly essential. Yoga serves as a remarkable avenue to help us remain vibrant and active in our later years. 🌼 I invite you to carve out some time today for yoga and consider making it a cherished part of your routine. Embrace this journey with enthusiasm and an open heart! 💚 You've got this! ✨

Midsummer

Midsummer is just around the corner, falling close to the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year 🌞. This day has been celebrated since ancient times, originally known as "miþsumar" in Old Swedish. As Christianity spread, it became associated with St. John the Baptist's Day and is still referred to as Sankt Hans in Denmark and Johanne in Finnish Swedish 🇩🇰🇫🇮.

In ancient Nordic tradition, it was believed that Midsummer night was magical, bringing all of nature to life 🍃✨, with bright summer nights filled with fairies and other supernatural beings. To ward off evil spirits, such as trolls and goblins (but not the fairies) 😈, bonfires were lit 🔥. This night was also known for its wild displays of love 💖 and eroticism, themes echoed in Shakespeare's enchanting play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was said that if you picked seven or nine different flowers 🌼🌸 and placed them under your pillow, you would dream of your future spouse. Additionally, the dew, herbs, and medicinal plants gathered on this night were believed to possess healing powers 🌿.

In the Vedic tradition, the summer solstice is also a significant time for celebration 🌼. There, herbs and plants are also viewed as having healing properties—not just on Midsummer Night. According to the Vedas, everything is consciousness and intelligence, including our bodies. Each herb has a unique signature of intelligence that is stronger at specific times. Maharishi Ayurveda compiles this ancient knowledge about the effectiveness of various herbs, when to harvest them, and how to prepare and combine them for maximum health benefits 🌱. This is why these preparations are so effective and completely free of side effects. During a health consultation with us (also available online), you can receive advice on the best preparations for your health and well-being 💪.

Happy Midsummer! 🎉