Summer Solstice Tips

Summer Living - Take It Easy

The summer solstice (or estival solstice), also known as midsummer, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. At the pole, there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice.

Summer Fitness

As a teacher of ChiBall/Yoga, summer is one of my favourite classes to teach, both physically and in my cooking/nutrition sessions. As the season of passion, abundance and high energies, we should flourish physically, mentally and emotionally. In my Summer ChiBall class we will have sequences based on specifically working the heart and small intestine, as these are the corresponding organs for the fire element. The heart pumps blood – the small intestine processes food so the body can use it. The stomach receives food – the small and large intestines transmit and excrete waste. The triple warmer releases heat and the pericardium protect our heart from emotional stress.

Summer Fun

FIRE – Laughter and joy are valuable emotions and today there are sadly not enough of these wonderful emotions on display.  Someone who can’t laugh or show love and affection, or who demonstrates excess amounts, reveals a Fire imbalance. Remember we are all looking to achieve the same.  BEING IN OUR ELEMENT! The key therefore to the Fire Element ChiBall class is for healing your heart, improving your circulation…relieving insomnia…reducing anxiety…developing self-love, because when we lack fire, we lack emotional warmth. If your energy reserves are low and you feel fatigued, this can mean that the kidney energy is low and that you did not rest enough and recuperate during the winter.  If this is the case, then it is essential that you look after yourself as much as possible in the summer months, or your energy could be even lower in winter, leaving you more susceptible to colds and other viral infections.

Summer Tips

This is the best time of year to lose weight, so choose foods which are easy to digest, eat salads and fresh fruits. Sea vegetables salads such as wakame with grated apple, Arame mixed with fresh greens are a great way to pack in minerals.  Use Sweet White Miso to lighten up the taste of your daily miso soup and simply cook with tiny tofu cubes. Macrobiotic Paella is a favourite dish of mine to cook at this time of year served alongside a delicious summer salad. Use spring onions and some parsley for garnish.  On the whole our diet should be of a cooler, lighter nature. Foods that strengthen the heart are bitter endive and dandelion, asparagus, whole grains such as rice and bulgur or couscous, and don’t forget to drink lots of clean living water. Dandelion root tea is an excellent tea for strengthening the heart and also aids in digestion.

Calming Summer Foods

As the ‘shen’ or ‘spirit’ is ruled by the heart, it is important to recognise both the foods, which settle and support the ‘shen’ and those, which weaken it. Sugar, alcohol, tea, coffee, refined foods, large evening meals and food consumed late at night, weaken it. Lemons have a calming action on the mind, as do whole grains, such as oatcakes which is attributed to the fact that these raise serotonin levels, an important neurotransmitter in the brain which is known to promote sound sleep and tranquillity. You will find a plethora of foods for every season in my book Go Vegan available world-wide on amazon.

Summer Solstice Noodle Bowl

Here is the basic formula for creating an endless variety of wholesome, tasty, and brilliantly colourful pasta salads based on what you find throughout the seasons. Always a great hit among the ‘mixed’ crowd of vegans and non-vegans. 

1 pack corn and rice fusilli pasta 

For the dressing 

1 cup oil-free mayonnaise (page 194) 

1½ tbsp brown rice vinegar 

2 tsp Dijon mustard 

2 tsp brown rice syrup 

2 tbsp juice from dill pickles or ume plum vinegar 

For the salad 

1 cup roasted red pepper, cut into small dice 

1 cup carrots, grated 

1 cup olives, black and green, chopped 

1 cup celery, cut into small dice 

1 cup cucumber, peeled and cut into small dice 

2 cups spring onions, sliced thinly on the diagonal 

1 cup red radishes, very thinly sliced 

1 cup dill pickles, cut into small dice 

½ cup fresh parsley, minced 

½ cup fresh coriander, minced 

Garnish 

Red and green chicory leaves 

Chopped chives and roasted pine nuts 

In a medium bowl, mix together the ingredients for the dressing and set aside. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Remove from the heat and rinse in cold water until completely cooled. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add all the vegetables herbs and mix well. Stir in the dressing and garnish with the chives and roasted pine nuts. Decorate with the green and red chicory leaves. Enjoy my bowl of sunshine. Makes 6–8 servings. 

Essential Oils

Lavender has an affinity with the Fire Element, partly due to its ability to clear heat. On an emotional level calms and soothes the ‘SHEN’ in times of stress and exhaustion, so helping with symptoms such as panic attacks, hysteria and insomnia. Invokes peacefulness of spirit and tranquillity of the mind. Can lower blood pressure and ease palpitations.

Flower Remedies

Agrimony, for those who on the surface may appear cheerful but underneath is hiding anxiety and pain. Can transform inner pain and suffering by bringing a note of lightness, joy and the ability to laugh at our problems.

When is the last time you said to a friend, how healthy are your intestines? Not something we are likely to talk about is it? Most of us, however, would be unlikely to gauge the health of any of our organs. Physical symptoms to watch out for if our intestines are not functioning properly are, anaemia, poor muscle tone, pain in the lower abdomen and haemorrhoids. Treat yourself to some ‘Sweet Orange’ Essential Oil, antispasmodic oil that is ideal for digestive disorders and can help to unblock stagnant chi when it accumulates in the body. Physically it can also help with symptoms of abdominal distension and pain, flatulence or irritable bowel. Sweet Orange is mildly sedative and on an emotional level can help to relax the ambitious workaholic who over-works. Instils an air of buoyancy and joy when inhaled and can be a good oil to help combat insomnia.

Having understood then about the FIRE ELEMENT [heart and small intestine] let us all look at the phrase ‘quality time’ which is one we hear often in this busy day and age – time to put aside a regular appointment with number one ‘YOURSELF’.

As you are aware the ChiBall Method is a holistic approach to exercise, therefore, holism means the care of the whole person, mind, body and spirit, so let’s grab the opportunity with both hands and improve our well being!

Thank you for your interest and have a healthy and enjoyable summer.

In good health