Cooling Summer Practice

Summer is a time of high energy, longer days, hotter days and somehow we manage to fill our plates with more to do. Balancing our summers with a cooling practice will allow us to feel refreshed, renewed and energetic. Starting with the way we breath in our practice. Sitali breathing or sipping through our tongue as if it was a straw can allow air to fill the mouth with a cooler breath allowing us to "chill out". Normally most breathing practices in yoga are practiced with the the mouth closed, in the summer it may be necessary to practice with a open or partially open mouth, cooling the breath as it enters the body. As for our physical practice forward folds are thought of in yoga to be cooling and relaxing. A slower more contemplative practice can help to balance the energetic heat of long summer days. Side bends and long relaxing supported back bends help open the lungs and ribs supporting the lungs. Observe how you feel before, during and after your practice. Feelings of irritation , anxiety or anger can mean your practice for the summer needs to be slower, calmer and more reflective for the  hot summer  months.