Day 7 - Ayurvedic Journey
Asana, with its soothing, stretching and relaxing action, is the main physical exercise for balancing the doshas. It calms Vata, cools Pittal and releases Kapha.
David Frawley
graphic by akhandayoga
PITTA OVERVIEW
Known for being associated with a tenacious personality, the pitta dosha is based on fire and water. Pitta is the fiery aspect of our nature, according to Ayurveda. And Pitta types love to be in control!
Pitta Summary
Body Frame Medium build and musculature
Weight Easy to gain, easy to lose
Skin Warm, oily, sunburns easily, freckles, acne
Hair Straight, fine, premature graying
Eyes Brightly colored, almond-shaped, steady gaze
Appetite Intense
Evacuation Loose, regular, large quantity
Sweat Profuse
Temperament Bright, intelligent, arrogant, driven, direct, witty
Memory Learns quickly, forgets slowly
Speech Articulate, decisive, clear, sharp
Climate Dislikes heat and humidity
Activity Competitive, intense
Routines Likes planning and organizing
“[Qualities of Pitta:] oily, sharp, hot, light, foul smelling, mobile, and fluid.”
Pitta Constitution
Pitta’s are usually of average height and built with well-developed muscles. Their skin is oily but prone to acne, rashes, and other inflammatory conditions. Their eyes easily get red or inflamed. They are sensitive to sunlight and often wear glasses. This fire type possess a good appetite, often excessive. They have moderate sleep but may get disturbed by emotional conflict. Their dreams may be colorful and dramatic. They are prone to loose stool or diarrhea. They sweat easily. They may suffer from fevers, infections, and inflammation. They are intolerant of heat and prefer coolness, water, and shade. They are competitive and often enjoy exercise or sports. They have moderate energy and endurance but may push themselves with strong determination that may lead to exhaustion.
Pitta Psychological
Pitta types are intelligent, perceptive, and discriminating. They have sharp minds and see the world in a clear and systematic manner. They have a strong will and make good leaders and scientists. They like to work with tools, weapons, or chemistry; with research and invention. They like law and order and many lawyers, politicians, preachers, orators, and executives are pittas. Their determination can serve them well when directed.
Pitta Subtle, Vital & Master Form: Tejas
The vital essence of Pitta is Tejas, or inner radiance, through which we digest impressions and thoughts and it governs higher perceptual capacities. Without tejas we lack clarity and determination. Like all of our other Vital Essences (Prana, Tejas, Ojas), it sustains our positive health and unfolds our higher evolutionary potential.
Pitta Season: Summer
The hot and humid summer months are ruled by Pitta (fire and water). In the Pitta Season, foods should be light and wet. Have cool drinks, but not iced (because it reduces digestive strength, agni). In general, make food and lifestyle choices that keep you cool and calm. Listen to soft and peaceful music, wear light clothes, do refreshing activities like swimming and light yoga-asana, try moon salutations instead of sun salutations, try a cooling blood cleanse (HERE), and enjoy 20 minutes of moon bathing (but don’t stay up too late).
Summer Seasonal Regimen (Ritucharya)
To avoid pitta disease: Eat foods that are sweet, light, fatty, cool, liquid, pleasing, and tasty. Your dwelling should be a soft bed in a cooling atmosphere; sheets sprayed with cool scented water, with bunches of flowers, and fountains. Activities: wear garlands, play with children, associate with pleasing friends, moon bathing. Avoid excessive exercise and excessive exposure to sunlight. (Astanga Hrdyam 3.27).
The Pitta season of our lives is adulthood, from around age 16 up to the age of 50, when the primary qualities of pitta are increased. This is a time of “digesting” our experience of life, developing our unique talents, being ambitious, competitive, focused and fiery.
Pitta Seasonal Effect
Fall/Autumn: the cool air can help rebalance pitta after the summer.
Winter: good for pitta; keep the core temperature warm and balanced.
Spring: pitta is balanced in the early, cool spring; pitta may become out of balance transitioning to the summer heat.
Pitta Times of Day
Pitta is influential from 10am to 2pm. Digestive fire is strongest during this phase; it’s ideal to have your biggest meal of the day during this time. Then, it’s Pitta from 10pm to 2am. Avoid eating late if your are still awake.
Pitta, Imbalanced and How to Balance
Excessive heat will aggravate pitta. The Pitta type is prone to hyperacidity and heartburn and may develop ulcers or hypertension. Imbalanced pittas are opinionated, judgmental or self-righteous. They are prone to anger, violence, aggression, being impulsive, fanatic, insensitive, or lacking compassion. Thinking also increases pitta.
Pittas may become imbalanced with over-exercising, eating hot and spicy foods, and even iced drinks. An imbalanced pitta could get a sudden heart attack.
Pitta, Balanced
Pita’s normal functioning is vision, digestion, heat, hunger, thirst, softness in body, complexion, luster, cheerfulness, intellect, prowess, exhilaration, and clarity. (Chakra Samhita).
How to Balance Pitta
Favor foods that are nourishing, refreshing, and not overheating.
Favor sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes.
Keep the body cool as much as possible—avoid overheating.
Incorporate regular moderate, noncompetitive exercise.
Avoid stimulants and acidic foods.
Include meditation, walks in nature, or time for self-reflection and self-care into your daily routine as much as possible.
“Many people often ask how to reduce pitta immediately. However, one thing that needs to be understood is that pitta cannot be reduced immediately especially not in Ayurveda. As instant results may not always last long, Ayurvedic medicines take time as they cleanse the entire body first and then start working on the root cause of the problem. ”
Pitta: Diet, Food & Herbs
Pitta’s attributes are hot, spicy, sour, and pungent, and so Pitta will crave these things, but we look to the opposites to balance this. Otherwise, the pitta may suffer from heartburn or indigestion. Calm the pitta with sweet, cooling foods and drinks. Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes balance the pitta. The classic Ayurvedic recommendation for pacifying pitta is ghee (alts for vegan and dairy free - HERE or HERE). The classic way to cook food for pittas is to sauté or steam.
Herbs that help balance pitta for overall health include gotu kola (brahmi), goduchi, shatavari, and fennel seed. (Check out the Healthy Pitta supplements with these herbs, HERE; and other Cooling Herbs to balance the Pitta Dosha, including bacopa and triphala, HERE).
Sushruta & Charaka Samhita’s Commentary on Pitta
Pitta in Ayurveda corresponds to metabolism in Western physiology; the principle agent in performing digestion, connected with the circulation of blood. Sushruta holds that the Pitta is the only fire present in the system; all acts from the digestion of food are performed with the help of Pitta. Charaka says that there are 13 Agnis, including the solar heat pent up in the solids that is transformed into organic heat which, becoming liberated in the stomach, produces the heat of digestion. Ayurveda emphasizes that most diseases are caused by a malfunctioning digestion/agni. (See the Types of Agni at Planet Ayurveda, HERE).
Pitta Meditation
Use meditation to focus your mental energy in a positive way. First, relax and cool down. For an affirmation meditation, use affirmations for increasing forgiveness, compassion, and love and surrendering anger.
A Dharana Meditation on the Fire Element, from Dr. David Frawley’s Ayurveda and the Mind (HERE): Set up a candle or lamp on an altar or sacred space in a quiet room. Gaze at the flame for 15 minutes. Try not to blink. Allow tears if they come. Let your mind merge into the flame. See the outer light as your inner light. Offer your negative thoughts. Let the fire purify them and expand them into positive energies of love and joy for the entire universe.
“The best therapies for the mind are nourishing the intelligence, developing will power, and cultivating spiritual knowledge. ”
3-Part Breath and Ujayi
This is for prenatal students too!
VIDEO
Dharma Talk
Asana Sequence
Pranayama
Meditation