Yoga? In this weather?

Unfortunately, I can’t spend all of my summer days sitting in front of my portable air conditioner, (I am currently writing this while sitting in front of my portable air conditioner.) When it’s too hot out, I feel no desire to workout. I just want to cancel my plans and drink chilled beverages every hour on the hour. I feel like I should wait until it cools down to get back into my yoga practice. But I’m here to convince you (and myself) that it’s all worth it, and not to skip yoga just because the temperature is through the roof!

Here are a couple of tips that can help when you’re doing yoga in the summer heat:

1. Pretend you’re taking a hot yoga class
Hot yoga has plenty of health benefits – It burns calories, builds muscle tone and flushes out toxins. If you’re feeling particularly sweaty during a yoga class in the summertime, just pretend you’re attending a class that specializes in hot yoga. It will prepare you for taking an actual hot yoga class when the weather is back to normal!

2. Do yoga at night
It’s bound to get cooler once the sun goes down, right? Your body will probably be tired after enduring so much heat during the day, so stretching out is a great option. As a bonus, practicing before bed will give you a great night of sleep – Something we desperately need when the temperature rises.

Want to know more about Let It Go Yoga? Click here to view your free Diaphragmatic Breathing Video!

3. Get to class early so you can place your mat closest to the fan.
When you get to do yoga directly in front of the fan, it immediately changes your practice for the better. This involves strategy, and I’m guessing you came to yoga class for a challenge. There will probably be a rush of people trying to get to this coveted position, so make sure that you’re ready to act when the time is right.

4. Put a yoga towel in the freezer for a few hours before class.
I haven’t actually tried this one, but I have to imagine that it would feel amazing to have a cool towel to use between poses. I’m planning on trying it out this month and if it works, I will definitely consider putting my yoga mat in the freezer as well.

5. Avoid all outdoor activities by going inside and meditating.
The hottest time of the day is from 11:00AM-4:00PM, and you can easily become enlightened during this time frame. Staying in the air conditioner for 5 hours is equivalent to becoming enlightened, right?

6. Cool off afterwards with some ice cream or a cold brew.
I’ve found that there always seems to be an ice cream shop or a coffee shop close to the yoga studios that I practice at. Decide that it’s fate and reward yourself after your workout.

7. Spend hours in Savasana.
Heat rises, so staying in a supine position on the floor will keep you cooler. Why not have that pose be Savasana? You can practice the Let It Go Yoga postures beforehand and then spend as much time as you like taking in that sweet, sweet final relaxation.

Let me know if you have more ideas for staying cool during your yoga practice! Remember to stay hydrated!

Contributed by Emily Parsons.

Want to know more about Let It Go Yoga? Click here to view your free Diaphragmatic Breathing Video!