Summer for Vata-Kapha & Kapha-Vata

Because pitta is not a dominant player in your constitution, your attention will be focused primarily on balancing the vata qualities of the summer season. At the same time, you’ll want to honor the relief that summertime offers kapha. Relish the flexibility, flow, and creativity of the season and learn to navigate the delicate dance of creating balance.

Foods to Favor

You will be able to handle slightly more heat than other types in the summer. Focus on eating summer foods that are good for both vata and kapha: apricots, berries, cherries, peaches, soaked prunes or raisins, asparagus, cilantro, green beans, leeks, okra, rutabaga, cooked spinach, amaranth, basmati rice, seitan, miso, mung beans, toor dal, soft cheeses, cottage cheese, and goat’s milk.¹

Also consider using a moderate amount of spice to stoke your agni (digestive fire)—fresh ginger, cardamom, coriander, cumin, and turmeric are good choices.

Acceptable Seasonal Indulgences

You can afford to eat some of the more heating vegetables like beets, cooked carrots, and cooked onion, in moderation. This is also a good time of year to indulge your sweet tooth, in moderation.

The light, hot nature of summer may make an occasional scoop of ice cream or pudding more tolerable than it would be at other times of the year. Just be careful not to disturb the digestive fire with too much cold or frozen food.

Foods to Minimize

Do your best to minimize foods that aggravate both of your primary doshas, like watermelon, pasta, and soybeans.¹ Develop a careful awareness around your eating habits and learn to notice the effect that various foods have on you. Be on the lookout for signs of excess dryness (gas, bloating, constipation, dry skin) and excess heaviness (lethargy, low energy after meals, brain fog).

Lifestyle Adjustments

Your challenge during the summer months is to allow kapha to be active enough, without wearing down vata. You may be able to tolerate a bit more heat than some, but don’t overdo it.

For yoga, you could try an active, early morning practice with some flows, standing poses, balancing poses, chest openers, backbends, restorative poses, and a long Savasana (Corpse Pose) at the close of your practice. Ultimately, the summer gives you an opportunity to strike a balance between kapha’s need for activity and vata’s strong tendency to overexert.

You may find it helpful to read both the vata and kapha sections above for some more helpful hints on supporting these doshas during the summer months.