I was feeling low the other day. And there it was—beckoning me in all its tantalising glory, promising to shatter my disillusionment with flavours bursting on my palate. Should I…shouldn’t I? The classic
devil-angel tug-of-war played out in my mind, numbing my reasoning for a while.
Basmati rice pulao with chunks of paneer and soya, flavoured with mint, coriander, green chillies, garam masala and pav bhaji masala, and served with Mirchi ka Salan and mixed vegetable raita—finally won. I was feeling sorry for myself, and food was my refuge.
I had large spoonfuls of the heavenly Biryani, savoured each bite and overate. It made me feel good, but only for a while. Bloating and acidity came soon after, and within two days, I had a low-grade fever, constant nausea and body pain.
This is a story many of us can relate to.
THE WRONG TIME TO INDULGE
I didn’t regret my indulgence—we’re human after all—but I knew what had happened. I had chosen the wrong time of the year to indulge.
What I had eaten was the complete antithesis of what Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, advises for this period, the ‘Sharad Ritu’—to avoid not just spicy, oily, or sour foods, but also overeating.
With the skies clearing after the monsoon, the Sun’s intensity rises and the heat brings in changes in the body and the environment. The digestive fire gets stronger and energy levels rise. But this is also when Pitta gets aggravated because of the suddenness in increased sunlight and heat.
Everyone seems to be battling something—-colds, the flu, stomach upsets or cramps. Mood disorders also seem to be the norm.
LIVING ACCORDING TO THE SEASON – OR RITUCHARYA
Ayurveda has many nuggets of wisdom to offer for healthy living. One of them is Ritucharya or “living according to the season”. Experts say this is the real key to beating any lifestyle disease.
By incorporating changes in our food and habits according to the season, we can prevent many diseases. Ritucharya helps balance the three doshas—vata (air), Pitta (fire), and kapha (earth and water)— so we can remain physically and mentally healthy.
WHAT AYURVEDA SAYS ABOUT SHARAD RITU
In Sharad Ritu, the sharp sunny days aggravate Pitta dosha which aids digestion, perception, intelligence, and blood-formation—but only when it is balanced.
Pitta means bile, which corresponds to fire. When imbalanced, Pitta dosha shows up as rashes, itching, tummy upsets, inflammations, and fevers.
To pacify Pitta, include all things cooling, gentle and calming in our daily routine. This would mean including:
Light, cooling foods, in moderation: Sweet, astringent and bitter foods—such as rice, wheat, milk, ghee, jaggery, dates, bananas, apples, pomegranate, ginger, black pepper, turmeric, fenugreek, neem leaves, and leafy greens—are recommended. Among vegetables, go for squashes and gourds, fenugreek, carrot, beetroot; among lentils, moong and tur.
Reduce: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rajma, urad dal, chana, potatoes, alcohol.
Avoid: Hot spices like chillies and mustard, oily stuff and sour food items, heavy meats.
Prefer: Buttermilk, instead of curd.
Preferred spices: Coriander, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, turmeric.
Plenty of fluids: Water, soups, fresh juices, and herbal teas made with spices like fennel, coriander, cardamom.
Consume Hansodak or charged water in Ayurveda: Sipping water heated in sunrays during the day and then cooled in moonlight overnight, preferably in a silver vessel, is said to calm Pitta, improve digestion, and purify blood.
Lifestyle factors to avoid: Overeating, or remaining hungry for long periods; going out in the Sun; getting angry, overstimulated or too excited; strenuous activity and overexertion.
Try to: Get 7-8 hours of sleep, and wear light, breathable clothes.
Sweet fragrances: One of the best ways to calm Pitta. Use cooling oils like sandalwood, rose, jasmine, champak, lotus.
Body pack: Make a paste by rubbing a genuine sandalwood (Chandan) stick on a chandan pathar (rubbing stone) with a little water. Apply it on your body, especially to the forehead, palms, soles, abdomen and back. Sandalwood is cooling and reduces body heat.
YOGA POSES FOR THE SEASON
In Sharad Ritu, your yoga practice should feel soothing, not strenuous. The exercise session should have mild poses that allow remaining still and letting go.
In Yoga for Your Type: An Ayurvedic Approach to Your Asana Practice, authors David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield-Kozak explain that Pitta dosha mainly accumulates in the small intestine and mid-abdomen. Asanas that release heat and stress from this area reduce Pitta.
The Yoga gurus reveal that forward-bends, and sitting and prone postures are cooling. Think Paschimottanasana (Full Forward Bend), Yoga Mudrasana (Yoga Seal pose), and Savasana (Corpse pose) for twenty to thirty minutes (lessen the time if it’s making you irritable).
Twisting poses also help.
Breathing through the mouth is cooling—hence, Shitali and Sitkari Pranayamas work. Slow breathing is cooling, so Diaphragmatic breathing helps.
Breathing in through the left (lunar) nostril and out through the right nostril decreases heat and reduces Pitta.
Avoid: Inversions, Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog), Sirsasana (Headstand) and other vigorous poses.
Overall, Sharad Ritu is about eating light, detoxifying, keeping the mind calm, withdrawing from indulgences, and meditating more—making a shift towards renewal and inner growth.
The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@gmail.com.
