Nama-staying Cool as a Cucumber!
During hot summer spells, here are a few suggestions for practicing some “cool” yoga:
- Be sure to pace yourself. Perform poses just a bit more slowly. Take longer breaths while holding each pose.
- Focus on long, cooling breaths. Try inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. When you exhale, curl your lips as though you are sipping through a straw.
- Wind down with savasana before getting off the mat. Imagine yourself moving through the rest of your day cool, calm and collected!
You may wish to try incorporating the following types of poses into your yoga practice:
Spinal Twists
Twisting poses release excess heat from your mid-section. Reclining Spinal Twist is a good one to try.
Forward Folds
Bending forward helps cool the body and calm the mind. Try Standing Forward Bend.
Gentle Backbends
While backbends can invigorate the system and increase heat, a gentle backbend helps release tension. Slowly do Cat-Cow Pose.
Try to avoid these types of poses, which can turn up the body’s internal thermostat:
- Inversions
- Warrior Poses
- Sun Salutations
- Binds
And Drink enough water. This applies year-round but is super-important when it’s warm.
