Summer Survival Guide (For Every Dosha)

Whether you have more Pitta like me or a different Dosha mix, I created this post to help you reflect on your summer habits and use them as a guide to cool-off and rebalance.

It’s a very, very hot summer! And honestly, the older I grow, the more I notice how much the extremes throw me off.  Too much heat, too much noise, too much everything. Just feels ‘too much’ and I guess I’m not alone!

Summer lights something up in us. We often feel more alive, more expansive. Even when life is tough, there’s a sense of lightness and freedom. But with all the movement, the social buzz and that high energy… it’s easy to skip rest, quiet moments and checking in with ourselves.

Each Dosha responds to summer differently, and understanding how yours reacts can help you find more balance and ease in the season.

Pitta in Summer: Turn Down the Heat

Summer is Pitta season hot, bright, sharp and intense. And when your own nature is fiery too, like mine, that heat gets even more intense!

Sometimes my body gets so hot I can barely sleep, and my mind feels constantly switched on, excited, active and restless. Rest becomes difficult, and I feel drained during the day. While Pitta energy gives me focus, motivation and drive, it can also push me way beyond my limits. I start to feel pressure from things I usually enjoy and that’s when I know it’s time to cool down!

If you already have a strong Pitta constitution like me, the heat outside can amplify the heat within, leading to physical discomfort, tension or mental burnout. When the fire’s high, it’s not about dimming your light. It’s about knowing how to cool down. 

What helps me soften that inner heat is keeping things easy, playful and cooling.

• I go for hydrating foods like cucumber, mint, watermelon, and coconut water.
• I take siestas. I live in Spain, so it is natural and encouraged.
• I try to spend more time off screens and in nature.
• Moon walks.
• And maybe most importantly, I make space for play: card games with my family or being more playful in my practice and daily life.

Vata in Summer: Slow the Spin

If you have a strong Vata nature, constant motion can leave you feeling all over the place and ungrounded.

Summer can feel like heaven for Vata types with all the warmth, movement, spontaneity, and travel. But since Vata is already light, dry, mobile, and airy by nature, summer’s fast pace, irregular routines and constant stimulation can quickly tip things out of balance.  

Your sleep might get lighter, digestion more sensitive, and your mind may stay active even when your body is completely exhausted.

When that happens, grounding yourself with simple daily rituals can make all the difference.

• Warm, nourishing meals instead of just raw salads and ice-cold drinks.
• Sipping calming herbal teas like rose or fennel throughout the day.
• A soothing evening routine with a warm shower and a little lavender oil under your feet.
• Gentle yin yoga or cooling breathwork like Sheetali.
• A massage session to calm the nervous system and bring you back to your body.

Kapha in Summer: Move with Ease

If you have a strong Kapha nature, summer can feel heavy.

Kapha is already steady, earthy and usually resistant to change. While summer’s lightness and uplifting energy can help shake off that resistance, it can also aggravate sluggishness, especially when it’s just too hot to move. You might feel unmotivated even with the sun shining, crave naps or comfort food and avoid movement.

Like when there are too many options… and you end up doing nothing. You start the day with a plan… and somehow it’s already evening.

When that happens, gently inviting in stimulation and circulation can help balance and recharge your energy.

• Go for lighter meals with fresh herbs, lemon, and bitter greens.
• Early morning is your time. Start the day with movement, preferably outside.
• Use uplifting essential oils like lemon, eucalyptus, or rosemary in your morning shower.
• Try something fresh: change your routine, explore new places, or do something playful.
• Spend time with people that gives you energy.

Summer is a mirror. It reflects what we’ve been holding, forcing, avoiding, or forgetting because it amplifies what’s already within.

If you’re already pushing, summer might push harder.
If you’re feeling unfocused, it can scatter you more.
If you’re feeling heavy, it can weigh you down even further.

But when you begin to observe and understand these seasonal shifts, you start making choices that feel more aligned. Everything becomes a little more intuitive and balanced: how you eat, how you rest, how you move, and how you live. 

✨ Want to know what this season is reflecting back to you?

Take the free Mind-Body Type Quiz on my website to explore your current dosha balance.
Or book a free clarity session to explore what your body and mind truly need right now.

Deniz Orbay.