So, we’re not actually complaining about the current temperatures and we are very grateful for some lovely sunny days, BUT, we are British after all, and it has been pretty hot this week hasn’t it!!
Warm weather is great, but extreme heat can cause our bodies a bit of discomfort and un-ease, especially as we are not really used to it here in the UK. Sweating, dry eyes, itchy skin and lethargy are all symptoms of rising temperatures, and most of the time all we want to do is jump into a nice cold swimming pool every ten minutes.
If you don’t have the luxury of a swimming pool to hand this week, then here we are offering an alternative solution – using yoga to cool down the body in a natural manner.
Let’s see how you can do it…
Sitkari breathing
According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, practicing sitkari gives great cooling effects, as well as balancing the endocrine system and building vitality.
Sitkari involves pressing your upper and lower teeth together gently and separating your lips so that your teeth are exposed to as much air as possible. Next, inhale deeply through the gaps in your teeth, creating a reversed hissing sound. The breath will feel cool as it enters your mouth and down into the back of your throat. The exhale is done through pursed lips as if you were blowing out through a thin straw. Repeat up to 20 times for a full cool-down.
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
A wonderful, grounding and harmonising pose, Mountain is a standing posture that can be practiced at any time and in most places, no matter where you are.
Standing in Mountain Pose for 10 – 12 breaths can offer a cooling effect to the body as well as energising and refreshing you to continue with your day. Mountain will also help to steady your breathing, which will slow down your heart-rate and further help to bring down your body temperature.
Prasarita Padottanasana (Standing Wide-Legged Forward Bend)
Nourish your emotions and your physical body with a wide-legged forward bend. Forward bends are inherently calming to the nervous system and will help to cool down your inner temperature.
You will benefit from a fantastic stretch down your hamstrings, calves and hips as well as relieving any tension from your neck and shoulders caused by hunching over to avoid the direct sunlight. Stay in the pose for a count of 10 long breaths to fully maximise the benefits.
Simhasana (Lion Pose)
A powerful and exhilarating pose, Lion can help to alleviate tension, stress and irritability in the body and mind – some of the symptoms that hot weather can give us.
Specific benefits can be achieved in the chest, allowing us to breathe easier and it also gives a great stretch to the muscles in our face and also exercises our eyes, allowing them to remain active.