☀️ Keeping Cool: An Ayurvedic Guide to Summer (Grishma) Wellness
- Bhanu Patel
- Aug 12
- 7 min read
Yesterday evening was still and golden, the warm breeze carrying the scent of sun-warmed grass. As the sky faded to amber and rose, I sat on the porch with cool coconut water, feeling both relaxed and slowed, as if the sun’s unhurried descent had seeped into my own rhythm.
It was then that I was reminded of one of Ayurveda’s simplest truths:
“Like increases like. Opposites balance."
Summer’s heat can nourish us — but without balance, it can also leave us drained, irritable, and burnt out. Ayurveda gives us tools to enjoy the beauty of the season while keeping our inner cool.
In Ayurveda, each season carries distinct qualities that can influence our health and mood. When we learn to work with those seasonal qualities instead of against them, we can feel more energized, centered, and joyful.
Today’s blog post shares An Ayurvedic Guide to Summer (Grishma) Wellness — how to eat, move, and care for yourself so you can enjoy the season without overheating, burning out, or feeling irritable.
🌿 Ayurvedic Approach to Seasonal Health: Ritucharya
We’ve all heard about the benefits of eating seasonally — biting into a sun-warmed tomato in summer or savoring sweet root vegetables in autumn. But in Ayurveda, seasonal living (Ritucharya) goes far beyond food.
It’s about aligning your diet, daily routine, and self-care practices with the rhythms of nature so your body and mind can thrive. By adjusting how we eat, move, and rest throughout the year, we not only enjoy what’s fresh from the garden — we also boost immunity, support longevity, and create a more balanced, joyful quality of life.
An Ayurvedic Guide to Summer (Grishma) Wellness
☀️ Summer & Pitta: Finding the Cool in the Heat
Summer is hot, dry, and sharp—qualities that mirror Pitta dosha. When we add more heat to heat, we risk aggravating Pitta.
If you love vigorous activity — whether it’s running, cycling, hiking, or a fast-paced yoga flow — try moving it to the cooler hours of early morning or evening. You’ll not only protect your body from excess heat but may find your stamina and enjoyment increase.
Instead of: jogging at noon under blazing sun 🌞
Try: a cooling early morning or evening walk 🌙
Cooling summer activities:
Gentle morning or evening walks
Swimming
Moon salutations instead of sun salutations
💡 Quick Tip: Pitta thrives when you cool down, slow down, and hydrate often.
🥗 Cooling Foods for Summer Balance
In Ayurveda, the foods we choose can be as cooling as a dip in the pool. In summer, favor sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes to counterbalance the season’s heat, and go lighter on hot, spicy, and pungent flavors that stoke more fire.
Think crisp cucumbers, juicy melons, and fragrant herbs that refresh you from the inside out. Here are some seasonal stars to reach for:
Fruits: apples, pears, cherries, berries, melons, dates, plums, coconut (try a chilled fruit salad with mint)
Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, cilantro, cucumber, dandelion greens, eggplant, fennel, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini (lightly steam or enjoy raw in salads)
Legumes: bean sprouts, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans, lentils, mung beans, pinto beans (ideal in cooling summer soups or grain bowls)
Spices: asafetida, cardamom, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fresh ginger, mint, parsley, turmeric (use to flavor lassis, herbal teas, or light curries)
Teas: chamomile, cumin-coriander-fennel, dandelion, hibiscus, lemongrass, mint (serve cool for extra refreshment)
Drinks: coconut water, cooling lassi (perfect after a hot day outdoors)
🍹 Recipe Card: Cooling Cumin Lassi
This simple, refreshing drink is a classic Ayurvedic way to cool the body and aid digestion on hot summer days. Light, savory, and gently spiced, it’s perfect alongside lunch or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Ingredients
¼ cup plain yogurt
1 cup room temperature or cool water
¼ tsp roasted cumin powder
Salt to taste
Instructions
Combine yogurt, water, cumin powder, and salt in a bowl or cup.
Whisk or hand-blend until smooth and slightly frothy.
Enjoy with khichari or as a cooling afternoon snack.
💆♀️ Self-Care Rituals to Beat the Heat
Summer is the perfect time to slow down and savor small moments of self-care. These simple rituals not only help you cool down physically but also bring a sense of calm to the mind.
Abhyanga (self-massage) — Once a week, treat yourself to a gentle self-massage using warm coconut or sunflower oil. This deeply nourishing practice cools excess Pitta, hydrates sun-parched skin, and soothes the nervous system. For extra refreshment, shower afterwards with lukewarm water rather than hot.
Coconut oil foot massage before bed — Massaging your feet with cooling coconut oil before sleep can help release the day’s heat and tension. Slip on a pair of light cotton socks to protect your sheets, and notice how this simple ritual supports deeper, more restful sleep.
Wear loose, breathable clothing in light colors — Choose natural fabrics like cotton or linen in whites, pastels, or soft neutrals. These allow your skin to breathe, prevent overheating, and reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Think flowing dresses, wide-leg trousers, and airy tops that make you feel as cool as you look.
🍽 The Summer Digestive Shift
🔥 In Ayurveda, our agni — or digestive fire — naturally burns lower during the hot summer months. Just as we might avoid adding more logs to an already blazing campfire, it’s wise not to overburden digestion when the body is working to stay cool.
This is the season for smaller, lighter meals that leave you feeling energized rather than sluggish. Heavy, rich foods can dampen your vitality and add to summer fatigue.
Your best approach:
Make lunch your largest meal — Your digestion is strongest at midday, when the sun is highest.
Choose easy-to-digest, seasonal foods — Fresh fruits, crisp salads, and lightly cooked vegetables provide plenty of nourishment without weighing you down.
Keep dinners light — A simple vegetable soup or steamed vegetables with a small portion of grain can help you sleep more comfortably on warm nights.
By honoring your digestive rhythms, you’ll feel lighter, more comfortable, and better able to enjoy the long summer days. Please let me know what you thought about this Ayurvedic guide to summer wellness!
🍂 Preparing for Autumn
As summer fades, the air begins to feel a little drier, the evenings a touch cooler, and the days a bit shorter. In Ayurveda, this shift marks the start of Vata season — a time when the body and mind can become more restless, dry, and scattered if we don’t take steps to stay grounded.
The best way to prepare is to build stability and nourishment now, so the transition into autumn feels smooth and supportive.
Simple ways to ease into the season:
Add ghee to your meals — This golden, clarified butter nourishes tissues, lubricates joints, and balances dryness from the inside out. A spoon stirred into warm grains or drizzled over vegetables is both delicious and deeply grounding.
Continue coconut oil foot massage — This calming practice, perfect before bed, not only hydrates the skin but also supports relaxation and deeper sleep as the nights grow longer.
Incorporate meditation into your routine — Even five minutes of quiet stillness each day can help anchor the mind as the airy, changeable qualities of Vata season begin to stir.
By weaving these ayurvedic practices into your late-summer days, you’ll enter autumn feeling steady, nourished, and ready to embrace the season’s slower rhythm.
Upcoming Workshop
Fall Ayurvedic Cooking Class: Pav Bhaji & CCF Tea
Saturday, September 28 | 5–7 PM | The Kitchen, Melrose
Join me for a cozy evening of cooking and connection. We’ll make Pav Bhaji — Mumbai’s beloved street food — a vibrant mash of spiced vegetables served with soft, buttery rolls. Step-by-step, we’ll prepare this classic dish together, with plenty of tips for making it both nourishing and deeply flavorful.
To accompany our meal, we’ll brew a warm cup of CCF Tea — a soothing blend of cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds that gently aids digestion and balances the richness of the Bhaji.
About Your Host
I’m Bhanu, founder of Soma Ayurved and an Ayurvedic Practitioner who loves showing how food can be both delicious and healing. Over the years, I’ve shared Ayurveda in classrooms and kitchens, guiding people toward balance with simple recipes, seasonal wisdom, and a dash of spice.
My hope is that you leave each class inspired, well-fed, and ready to bring a little more warmth into your own cooking.
On the Menu:
Pav Bhaji — A comforting, spiced vegetable mash served with golden, buttered rolls. A classic taste of Mumbai.
CCF Tea — A gentle, digestive blend of cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds.
Stay tuned for more details!
📚 Bhanu’s Book Nook
This month’s pick: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
This heartwarming — and often laugh-out-loud funny — memoir follows the real-life adventures of a young veterinary surgeon working in the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. Herriot’s stories are full of tender moments, unexpected challenges, and the kind of everyday beauty that’s easy to miss unless you’re paying attention.
His gentle humor and willingness to embrace life exactly as it is remind me of one of Ayurveda’s greatest teachings: presence and acceptance. Just as seasonal living encourages us to meet each moment with balance, Herriot shows us how to meet life — muddy boots and all — with warmth, humility, and joy.
A delightful, soul-soothing choice for long summer afternoons, preferably enjoyed with a cool drink and the sound of leaves rustling nearby.
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
I’d love to hear your favorite summer cooling rituals—recipes, self-care, or special places that help you unwind.
Leave a comment below or send me a note.
For more Ayurvedic tips and recipes through every season, sign up for my newsletter so we can walk this path together.
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