This summer is set to be a hot one. Host Phoebe has provided two ways that you can beat the heat using tried and tested yogic techniques.
Sitali Breath
During these hot, steamy summery days and nights, we tend to lean on the use of fans, air conditioning, icy cold drinks, and dipping in the pool or ocean to keep our cool.
But…what if, we could create our own internal air conditioning to help beat the heat?
There is a breathing technique for that!
Now not only does this pranayama (breath control) technique help keep you cool as a cucumber, it also helps put the fire out of any fiery, angry or agitated energy.
How to practice Sitali Pranayama:
– Sit in a comfortable position
– Welcome a deep diaphragmatic breath in and out through your nose.
– Curl the edges of your tongue in to create an “O” or a straw like expression. Stick your tongue out of your mouth to receive the breath.
– Inhale deeply through your tongue as if you are drinking through a straw, feeling the cool moist sensation travelling over your tongue.
– Draw the tongue in, relax the tongue and mouth and exhale completely through both nostrils.
– Repeat for 3 – 5 mins until you feel relaxed and return back to your natural way of breathing.
– Observe the effects.
Anytime you feel hot and bothered or about to lose your cool, connect into your trusty Sitali Breath and reap the benefits!
Viparita Kirani
Think of this delightful pose as a big reset for your body, mind and soul.
When you have had a busy day and you’ve been on your feet all day long, your feet are hot and tired and you feel like your legs are about to fall off, do yourself a favour, find a wall, lay down, throw your legs up and feel like version 2.0 of you!
Viparita Karani really is the cure for all things
It helps with:
* Anxiety
* Digestive problems
* Headache
* High and low blood pressure
* Insomnia
* Migraines
* Varicose veins
* Menstrual cramps
* Premenstrual syndrome
* Menopause
See, the cure of all things! (I wasn’t lying!)
How to practice Viparita Karani:
– Find a wall or something to rest your legs on (the options are endless)
– Lay down close enough to the wall that your back is on the floor, sit bones are close to the wall and legs resting straight up against the wall.
– Allow your arms to rest down by your side or bring one hand to the heart centre and the other hand to your abdomen.
– Close your eyes and feel your breath deepen.
– Stay in the pose as long as you would like too until you feel nice and relaxed.
– When you are ready to come out of the pose, bend your knees to your chest, roll off to your favourite side and gently lift your way back to a seated position.
– Notice the effects of the pose and how refreshed you feel.
– Practice any time you feel hot and bothered, when your mind is busy and you find it hard to relax and switch off.
Enjoy!
About the Author
Born and bred in Sydney on the beautiful Northern Beaches, Phoebe fell in love with yoga in 2003 when she was in high school dealing with the stressors of exams, parents divorcing and all the fun and games of being a teen.
Phoebe’s classes weave together a creative mix of yin and yang. Expect to leave her classes feeling grounded, revived, happy and with a deeper knowledge of yourself and how to apply the practices of yoga in your everyday life.
When Phoebe isn’t deepening her knowledge and love for all things yoga, you will find her playing and exploring in the great outdoors with her dog Maverick, surfing and frolicking in the ocean, immersing herself in her art, her love for crystals and all things magical.