Midday Yoga to Calm & Cool: A Pitta-Balancing Practice

Join Kathryn Templeton for a free live yoga class this summer — a gentle, supportive practice designed to help you slow down and return to balance.

The session moves from slow sun salutations into an asana practice incorporating lateral and twists. Drawing on the Ayurvedic understanding that summer amplifies pitta qualities, fire, intensity, and sharpness, the class integrates targeted pranayama techniques, optional aromatherapy, and a guided savasana to cultivate a cool, calm, and compassionate mind.

To prepare for class, please have the following available:

Two blocks (recommended even for those who rarely use them)
A scarf or light blanket for the closing practice

Optional: a napkin with a cooling essential oil such as lavender, sandalwood, rose, or peppermint, or a similarly-scented herbal tea

Kathryn Templeton

Kathryn Templeton, MA, RDT/ MT/LPC, E-500 RYT, C-IAYT, NAMA-CAP Ayurvedic Practitioner Kathryn Templeton has devoted her life to the health of others. A psychotherapist for 30 years, Kathryn is a Yoga Alliance 500 Hour Yoga Teacher and continues to work both clinically and as an educator specializing in the treatment of individuals with anxiety, depression and complex trauma. As a C-IAYT, NAMA-registered Ayurvedic practitioner and YA-500 yoga teacher, Kathryn has worked to develop specialized treatments integrating the principles of yoga, ayurveda and clinical psychology. As a faculty member at the Himalayan Institute for a decade, she was the founder and director of the Himalayan Institute Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist program (HIAYS), Ayurvedic Health Counselor Program ( AHC) and online, the founder of The Three Wisdom Traditions: Integrating Yoga, Ayurveda, and Psychology (3WT). Kathryn is a published author in books and magazines such as; Yoga Journal, The Yoga of Parenting, Health and Spirituality Magazine and more. She continues to partner with Banyan Botanicals as an educator and has founded a new coaching program; The Ayurvedic Mental Health and Wellness Coach Program.

Responses

Lisa Dickson-Battye July 15, 2026

Thank you for this free pratice Katherine. However, I found this routine quite heating and didn’t quite reach it’s cooling objective.
What worked for me was definitely shitali and visualising the qualities of the moon. I would concentrate on more prone and supine postures and soft chanting for standing or kneeling to diminue pitta dosha. Thanks for all you propose, Hari Om.

Reply
1. Kathryn Templeton July 16, 2026
  
  HI Lisab,
  Thank you for your comment. Everyone’s yoga style (lineage, education, practice) will differ. There is no one-way to mitigate pitta imbalance, as there is no one-way pitta becomes imbalanced. Getting perspective on what works for various folks is always useful. Here’s to a cool, easy and relaxing summer 🙂
  In Service, KT
  
  Reply
Megan Ramsay July 16, 2026

I found this to be a wonderful practice for a very hot day and enjoyed the inventiveness of your twisty sequences! Thank you for so generously sharing your wisdom.

Reply
Diane Wharton July 19, 2026

Thank you. That was very enjoyable. Love from Diane in Kent, England

Reply
Cynthia Abbott July 27, 2026

Thank you Katherine for this practice. Lovely spinal twists, strength building with nurturing shitali cooling breath. Cooling closing loved. Ready to move out into the day.

Reply