Happy Summer! The most yang (energetic) time of year! 

Each season I like to take a step back to evaluate the cycles that are happening in nature. When we take a moment to do this, it allows us to better understand these same patterns happening within ourselves. We are connected to the world around us, and will feel our best when we align with nature through our activities, nutrition, and mindset. 

Summer Characteristics: the heart and small intestine organs, the fire element, the color red, the bitter flavor, hot weather, the sound of laughter, and the emotion of joy. 

Summer Balance: Getting lots of sun and having lots of fun, daily exercise, sweating it out, swimming, eating light meals, feeling joyful. 

Summer Imbalance: Hiding inside, feeling shy, not wanting to play, overeating, and feeling overly serious.

Tools to Balance: tap into your inner child and have fun, socialize and laugh a lot, balance the sociable nature of summer with downtime and relaxation, plan ahead to avoid feeling scattered, limit exposure to extreme hot temperatures (hot yoga, saunas, etc.), swim in refreshing water, take cool showers, stay hydrated (drink more water than usual), eat cooling/bitter foods, limit warming/spicy/greasy foods.