Softness in Summer

A beautiful ember sky,

With the breath of a breeze.

Yet there is tension in the space.

In this season of ease.

An unrelenting determination,

To be accomplished in our pursuits.

An intensity of frustration.

To enjoy the summer fruits.

Be at ease within your being.

Release control. Do not compare.

Be at ease within your being.

There is so much love that we can share.

Summer brings so much excitement, and rightfully so! It's a joy to have beautiful weather, and friends to bask in the day with. From hiking to swimming, music, cookouts, and games—the activities and opportunities are truly endless.

At the same time, we can feel such an intense drive to ensure we maximize our fun, and, instead of filling our cups with camaraderie and exuberant experiences, we can compare to others, feel as though we are missing out, or spend our day fueled with an overwhelming irritability.

If this speaks to you in any way, allow me a moment to share some teachings, techniques, and practices to embrace a softness in summer.

Power of a Gentle Flame

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता । योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥

yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā | yogino yata-cittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ

As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent Self. ¹

योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya | siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate

Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga. ²

Both of these ślokas remind us to be aware of our reactivity. Is our state of being similar to the steadiness of a flame in a windless place? Or are we quick to express the turbulence of a roaring fire? Are we in a state of equanimity? To be grounded during perceived success or failure.

Ways to Return to Ease

When irritability, comparison, fatigue, or that sense of missing out begin to dictate how we move through summer, we can instead pause and listen for what is present beneath the reaction.

Ayurveda offers us a way of understanding these experiences through the qualities of Pitta and Agni. Rather than treating the season as something to manage perfectly, we can begin to explore what might help us return to a state of ease.

These practices are not meant to become another set of summer tasks to accomplish

They are opportunities to soften, create space, and reconnect with the intelligence of the body. Try one and see how it feels, instead of trying to do everything.

Prāṇāyāma & Āsana

• Śitali/Śitkari (cooling breath)
• Bow, Boat, Bridge, Twists, release heat
• So-Hum Meditation
• Chandra Namaskar (Moon salutations)

Ahara/Vihara: Diet and Lifestyle

• Wear cooling colors, whites, pinks, blues
• Work with red coral mala beads
• Take a 15-minute walk when you feel irritable or reactive
• Give yourself permission to cancel plans when fatigued
• Take a break from social media when comparison arises, or practice celebrating someone else's joy

As you move through these invitations, there is no need to force a particular outcome. Notice what happens when you make room to rest, soften, and spend more time cultivating your peace.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः