Pitta Self-care Rituals
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Pittas are the one everyone goes to for advice and support... dependable, reliable and intelligent... true problem solvers. However, when they are not in balance they can become critical, hot tempered and impatient. Fire and water are the elements of Pitta and they are characterised by qualities such as slightly oily, hot, light and liquid. These qualities translate into things like abundant sweat, prone to diarrhoea, sun sensitivity and anger. Creating calming rituals to sooth the Pitta dominance is a wonderful way to create balance in your life.
Morning Ritual
Sleep routine is important for Pittas who tend to have trouble falling or staying asleep when they feel stressed and out of balance
Wake up at 6am... just before the sun rises
Start your day with a glass of room temperature (or slightly warm, but not hot) water with mint to keep the system cool as you begin the day
Stand on the ground barefoot for 5 minutes – feel the earth, sand or grass under your feet and ground yourself before the overload of technology
Allow some time for your meditation practice – even 10 minutes will be beneficial
If you feel you don’t have time to do all of this before the day starts, then perhaps wake up 15 minutes earlier. You just need 15 minutes to centre yourself and meditate before starting everything else that needs to be done
Pitta types have a tendency to overcommit themselves and can become flustered and annoyed in the process – try to space your day accordingly
Evening Ritual
Start to wind down around 9pm
Turn off electronic devices
Light some candles and listen to some relaxing music
Take a warm bath
Try to be asleep by 10pm
Exercise Ritual
Pittas should engage in exercises that involve the cooling aspect of water – kayaking and surfing are ideal to pacify this dosha – three times a week is fine
Exercise should be done in the earlier part of the day to prevent increasing the energy too much at the end of the day, which can interfere with sleep
Self-Massage Ritual
A calming and cooling Abhyanga self-massage is an excellent way to help balance the Pitta dominance. This is the traditional full body Ayurvedic massage... starting at the tip of the head and working down the body until you reach the feet. Use some cooled Pitta Oil rubbed in a circular motion. Leave the oils on for at least 20 minutes before showering off
If you don’t have time for a full body massage, then a foot massage can be amazing at the end of the day... the foot is full of reflex points and you can activate the whole-body from massaging the feet
It is important to use a massage oil specifically blended to pacify your Pitta dosha; the Pitta Oil I use is a blend of 29 herbs to help relieve stress and exhaustion. The natural fragrance of sandalwood, rose and patchouli helps to soothe the senses, restore calmness, relax the mind and elevate the spirit.
In order for self-care to be effective we need to make it a daily ritual or routine. Our lives are becoming busier and busier and we need to self-care more to maintain balance and wellness. We create balance by maintaining routines that pacify our own unique dosha.
If you are able to, try to make time at least once a month for an extra special time of self-care... book a Body Ritual or a Facial Ritual, specific to the Pitta dosha...
The Pitta Body Ritual
A fusion of massage, sound, and healing, drawing from the wisdoms of both Eastern and Western practices, bringing together ancient and modern therapies. The ritual melds remedial massage, Ayurveda, Reiki, chakra balancing, energy healing and acupressure to bring you back into balance, restoring and renewing your prana. This calming and soothing treatment incorporates the use of the cooling Pitta Oil Blend.
The Pitta Facial Ritual
Personalised to the Pitta dosha and tailored to provide a deeply relaxing and sensory journey. Incorporating the healing energy of Ayurvedic wisdom into a fluid facial treatment that will work subtly on the energetic body, as well as the physical, leaving you feeling grounded, calm and balanced. The Pitta Facial Ritual will focus on calming and pacifying the skin using gently cooling Ayurvedic herbs such as sandalwood, coriander and cardamom. As the skin is soothed and the redness reduced, the active ingredients will help to repair and strengthen the delicate skin barrier.
To find out your dosha and to book a corresponding balancing Body or Facial ritual please call 0433 090 696.
