In case you’ve learn my seasonal dwelling weblog posts earlier than, you’ll know that every season holds a really totally different vitality, and in an effort to really feel our greatest year-round, we profit from shifting our life-style habits season-to-season. Residing seasonally doesn’t imply it’s a must to make large life modifications each few months, however small and easy but impactful modifications that profit us on each degree. As we transfer from Spring to Summer season, you could already be feeling the necessity to swap up your morning routine, meals decisions or weekend plans, or maybe you’re feeling you want a change, however don’t know the place to start out. On this publish, we’ll discover a number of straightforward on a regular basis holistic methods you possibly can put together your physique and thoughts for the Summer season (no, there’s no ‘seashore physique’ exercise right here!), and begin reaping the advantages of seasonal dwelling.
The Yin & Yang of The Seasons
Summer season is the height of ‘yang’ vitality; consider these brilliant, sizzling sunny days whenever you’re filled with vitality and have a day full of enjoyable plans. That’s the vitality of Summer season. Simply because the vegetation and bushes round us are in full bloom and on the top of their seasonal progress, we too would naturally really feel extra energised in Summer season if we have been dwelling seasonally. Perhaps this sounds such as you? Feeling extra energetic through the sunnier months is certainly linked to the longer hours of daylight, and the consequences it has upon our hormones and circadian rhythms, in any other case referred to as the ‘physique clock’. Daylight can improve a chemical inside us referred to as ‘serotonin’, which will increase temper and vitality ranges, and aids in serving to us really feel calm and targeted. The reverse is true in darkish Winter months, when the low ranges of daylight causes a scarcity of serotonin in some folks, referred to as SAD or ‘seasonal affective dysfunction’.
In keeping with Conventional Chinese language Drugs, every season is ruled by a special energetic motion too. Spring is ‘upward’, while Summer season is ‘outward’ and expansive. You may recognise this by watching how vegetation develop – upward from the earth in Spring, after which increasing outward in Summer season. The motion of increasing outward can be mirrored in our social interactions, which evolutionarily would have been far more expansive in Summer season than in Winter. Chilly months are extra suited to huddling in our houses with shut household and family members, while heat Summer season months are made for assembly numerous new folks, touring away from residence, and saying ‘sure’ to extra invites.
The traditional knowledge of Ayurveda (yoga’s ‘sister science’) recognises Summer season because the season highest in ‘Pitta’ vitality, associated to fireside and water. When in a wholesome balanced state, Pitta vitality helps us really feel assured, energetic, sturdy, targeted, capable of full duties effectively and aids in a robust metabolism. When this fiery vitality turns into extreme nevertheless (referred to as having a ‘Pitta imbalance’) we could really feel irritable, infected, offended, obsessive, we could over-work and over-do bodily exercise, attempt to tick too many issues off the to-do checklist, expertise blood sugar fluctuations, and ultimately burn out. Ayurveda usually makes use of the precept of ‘Like will increase like, and reverse brings stability’, so advises that in these sizzling Pitta Summer season months, we select cooling, calming actions that enable us to take a break free from working and ‘doing’, and focus extra on merely ‘being’.
So, it appears there’s much more to Summer season than merely hotter climate – as we shift into this season, the vitality modifications dramatically, so select your favourites from these holistic ideas for a more healthy Summer season that can assist you really feel your greatest!
Pranayama
Yogic respiration practices can assist us really feel calm, energised, targeted, and might even be used as a meditation observe. Mild on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar is a good useful resource for studying numerous totally different pranayama practise with huge advantages, and understanding the method and which means behind them. To maintain the physique cool throughout sizzling Summer season days, use the respiration observe Shitali pranayama, translated as ‘cooling breath’. To do that, roll your tongue right into a tube form (in the event you’re unable to do that, merely stick out your tongue), and inhale the air by means of the ‘tube’ like a straw. Shut your mouth, then exhale slowly by means of the nostril, and repeat two extra instances. This observe is efficient for cooling the physique in the event you really feel over-heated or irritated. Different mammals like canine additionally stick their tongue out to chill the physique, as they’re unable to sweat by means of their pores and skin.
Strain Factors
Conventional Chinese language Drugs practitioners usually suggest an acupuncture or acupressure therapy initially of every season to assist the physique’s vitality circulation harmoniously from one a part of the yr to the subsequent. In TCM, Summer season is ruled by the hearth aspect, which is said to the guts and small gut, so stress factors associated to those organs are used to assist hold them wholesome. The purpose SI 5 (small gut 5) can assist with psychological readability and tranquility, while a stress level situated within the centre of the palm referred to as Lao Gong can assist take away extra warmth from the physique, relieve mouth ulcers, improve vitality and calm a stressed thoughts. The soles of the toes additionally include many acupressure and reflexology factors, so attempt utilizing a mat just like the Scentered Foot Mat with De-Stress Aromatherapy Balm to appease and stimulate 42 factors on every foot to de-stress and stop burnout.
Take Your Observe Exterior
Our our bodies solely know what time of yr it’s if we really get out into nature and immerse ourselves within the season! The quantity and depth of daylight on our pores and skin sends indicators to the mind indicating what time of yr it’s, and once we step exterior within the morning, the pure daylight our eyes are uncovered to indicators to the mind that it’s morning, and time to really feel extra energised too. Getting out into pure daylight early within the morning helps set the physique clock on the appropriate time, encouraging us to really feel alert within the daytime and sleepy when it will get darkish at night time. Considered one of my favorite methods to get the advantages of my yoga observe and morning mild publicity, is to take my mat exterior for a number of rounds of solar salutations. The Yogamatters Eco Journey Yoga Mat is extremely light-weight and tremendous sticky, so you possibly can take it to the backyard, balcony, and even pack it simply in your case for Summer season holidays!
Keep Hydrated
Even slight dehydration could cause mind fog, dry pores and skin, constipation and fatigue, so when the times are sizzling and dry, it’s much more necessary to remain hydrated. The versatile, specifically designed Hydro Flask retains water icy chilly till the top of your morning run or yoga class, and may also be used to maintain tea toasty heat too..
Change To A Summer season Yoga Wardrobe
All of us love a pair of yoga leggings, however for these tremendous sweaty mid-Summer season lessons, generally shorts are a should. Particularly in the event you take pleasure in a dynamic vinyasa class or gymnasium exercise, carrying shorts can stop you from over-heating, and allow you to get extra profit out of your session (quite than collapsing right into a puddle of sweat…). The Girlfriend Collective Cora Pocket Shorts are designed with delicate, breezy cloth comprised of recycled bottles, are sweat-wicking and fast-drying, and excellent worn underneath a skirt for biking commutes on sunny days too.
Which tip do it’s worthwhile to take probably the most this Summer season? Have you ever already began making modifications that can assist you reside extra seasonally this yr?
