According to Ayurveda, pragyaparadha is one of the five main causes of disease, and refers to any action undertaken without a correct understanding of its ramifications.ĭuring the summer in temperate latitudes there is a peaking of the pitta (heat) energy. As we watched them slowly fade off in the distance I mentioned to my son that in Ayurveda this activity would be regarded as a pragyaparadha, or ‘intellectual error’. It was the middle of the day, and quite hot – upwards of 30˚C – and as we were walking we watched a pair of panting, sweaty joggers hobble past us, no doubt trying to burn that middle-aged pudge that often encourages such drastic measures. The other day I was walking the dogs with my son. Being active, along with fresh air and sunshine, are surely among the most important ingredients for a healthy life.Īlthough exercise is important, I think people tend to be a little too active in the summer, and just like northerners tend to underestimate the power of the sun during summer and get routinely burned, they also don’t quite understand the risks of being too active during periods of hot weather. Summertime means it’s easier to be outside more often, and so we are more physically active, removing us from the indoor environment which in modern times means a much higher exposure to environmental toxins, released from building materials, paint, carpets, furniture, and electrical equipment such as computers and television monitors. With the bright sun it’s easy to replete your diminished stores of vitamin D3, as well as take advantage of the other healing benefits the sun’s rays have when we are exposed to them in moderation. For most people living in northern latitudes, summer is a time to really get the most out of life.