Baby, it's HOT out! ❤️🔥
Hello Friends!
"If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?" ~ Steven Wright 😆
Have you noticed that people tend to act a little differently when it's this hot out?
Personalities feel a little sharper. Drivers are more impatient. People seem more focused on their own discomfort and less aware of those around them. It’s understandable. It’s human nature. And it’s a perfect time to take our Yoga off the mat.
How can we incorporate our Yoga practice to help soften the impact of this heat wave?
Let’s take a look at the Eight Limbs of Yoga from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
The Yamas: How We Interact with the World -
Ahimsa (non-harming): Take care of yourself by staying hydrated and tending to your physical and emotional well-being.
Brahmacharya (right use of energy): Conserve your energy. In your physical practice, consider minimizing deep twists, as they build internal heat. At home, be mindful of your AC usage so we’re not adding unnecessary stress to the power grid.
The Niyamas: How We Relate to Ourselves -
Svadhyaya (self-study): Notice when you are reacting rather than responding. Allow yourself a pause before you speak, move, or respond to discomfort.
Pranayama: Working with the Breath -
Pranayama is one of the most accessible tools for regulating our nervous system. "Prana" means life force or energy, and "ayama" means control. Depending on the type of breathwork, it can energize or cool you. A great tool during a heat wave is Sitali Pranayama, known as the cooling breath.
To practice Sitali Pranayama:
1. Soften your eyes and curl your tongue. If you can’t curl it, try to form a “U” shape with your tongue.
2. Inhale through your mouth across your tongue.
3. Close your mouth and exhale through your nose.
4. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
Check out the instructional YouTube Video HERE!
Pranayama is a fascinating and powerful part of our Yoga practice. Carrie just led our current Yoga Teacher Training group through a breathwork training this past weekend that deepened their understanding of this work. She’ll be returning on July 12 to lead the second installment of her 8-hour Pranayama workshop. This workshop is open to anyone interested in exploring breathwork, even if you missed the first session. Find out more HERE!
Today we definitely had a reprieve from the heat, but let’s be ready when the next wave comes!
With love and gratitude,
Geni and the Yogamour Team