Summer is right around the corner, beckoning us with a twinkle in her eye. Here in North Carolina, it already feels decidedly like summer, although we won’t hit the official start date until the Summer Solstice on June 20 this year.

Summer reminds us to find our inner child and to let her out to play! Blow off a boring meeting, get outside, admire a cicada wing, make some mud pies, let a lightning bug tempt you into the forest… 

Summer brings opportunities to indulge in sensory pleasures, to connect with others, to take time off from usual obligations, to express our vital energy and joy.

Of course, summer is the season when, by the end of it, our Pitta dosha can get elevated from excess heat, over-activity or too much intensity. To stay balanced, it’s important to avoid overheating, to eat cooling foods, to drink enough fluids when outdoors, and to watch out for stress from over-scheduling.

As cyclical beings, we need to take in the gifts of each season, to feel the qualities that surge and recede, to ride the rhythms expressed so obviously in the external world. We would lose vitality quickly if we just stayed in a neutral environment all day every day. Each season offers us a chance to feel our unique cycles.

Here are some great ways to invoke the healthy, inspiring qualities of summer, which can feed our soul and help keep us invigorated as we move throughout our year.

1) Go to the Farmers Market. Buy a new vegetable or fruit that you haven’t eaten before and explore a new recipe to prepare it. Take in the tastes – and nutrients – of summer’s bounty.

2) Wake up Early. The hours of daylight start much earlier in summer – follow mother nature’s suggestion and get up earlier. Enjoy a few extra minutes of freedom before your morning routine, and appreciate the feeling of spaciousness that spreads through your whole day.

3) Get out of Town. Shake up your norm – it doesn’t need to take long to get some new input into your life. Look for an Air BnB just an hour or two away from home for a change in scenery and perspective. Or take a weekend retreat to recharge with some ME time, or to learn something new.

4) Use Fresh Herbs. Fresh herbs and spices add a new level of energy and prāna to our foods. Look for fresh dill, mint, cilantro, basil and tarragon, and experiment with adding them to your meals in new ways. (See this week’s recipe for one idea!)

5) Get Outside at Dawn. The quality of energy in the air in an early summer morning is sweet and calm – and not yet too hot! Enjoy a morning meditation in the first rays of the sun, or an energizing walk around the block.

6) Cool Off. Find a water hole nearby to dip in. Or visit the local pool. Or mist yourself with this organic rosewater hydrosol. Try sheetali pranayama: stick out your tongue and roll it up like a straw and breathe in through the straw, then place the tongue on the roof of the mouth and exhale through the nose.

7) Enjoy Beginner’s Mind. Try a new game ( pickleball, croquet or golf, anyone?), or explore a new cookbook. Visit the library and take out a book on a new topic you want to learn about (I just got 5 books on landscape design!).

8) Brew Fresh Herbal Tea. Try a tea of lemon balm, or fresh mint, or hibiscus. Take a small handful of fresh leaves and immerse in boiling water. After five minutes, remove the leaves. Let the brew cool a bit if desired and enjoy the delicious taste and nourishing mineral content. I am LOVING lemon balm right now…

9) Go Roller Skating. Or scootering. Or kite-boarding! OR make a plan to – plan a vacation around getting active in a playful way.

10) Eat a Popsicle. Nothing says summer quite like a popsicle. We have a local popsicle purveyor who makes a special pomegranate ginger popsicle that’s to die for. Take flavor inspirations from anywhere and make your own – they’re not just for kids!