Best Yoga Poses for the Summer
As summer rolls on, all we want to do is cool off, relax, and energize ourselves to fight the heat. Remember that it is important to stay hydrated at all times and not just before or after your daily sessions. This will help you control your thirst, recover fluids after having lost them due to sweating, and recover your body temperature.
We recommend drinking between 2 and 3 liters of water a day, which is equivalent to 8 glasses a day. This is where the famous “8×8 rule” comes from, which states that each glass must have 240 ml in order to reach those 2 or 3 liters per day.
Practicing yoga in spaces where you are exposed to heat can leave you feeling tired, drained of energy and dizzy. It is for this reason that the following asanas can help you combat overheating by helping to open your lungs and eliminate excess heat that can be found in your solar plexus.
- Anahatanasana
Try to move slowly and enjoy this variation. Begin in mountain pose (tadasana) and bring your arms above your head as you slowly inhale. Exhale as you lower your arms and bring your hands to the sacrum. Keeping your hands resting on the sacrum, raise your chest, open your throat and bring your head back. Stay in this pose for an average of 3-5 breaths.
- Anahatanasana (variation 2)
Get down on your knees and in a tabletop position. Keeping your lower belly contracted, reach your hands forward and drive your chest toward the ground. Rest in this position for 5 deep breaths.
- Uttanasana
As you exhale, let your palms relax and look up as you lower your upper body toward the ground. Make sure your neck remains relaxed and your feet still just below you. Hold this pose for 5 deep breaths.
- Matsyasana
Extend your feet out in front of you and place your forearms behind you (placing your palms just below your butt face down). Point your toes out and extend your chest up as you open your neck and gradually release your head so that it comes down (your head may end up in contact with the ground in this case). Press into the ground with your legs and hands as you feel your chest inflate with each inhalation. This pose helps restore our concentration after the hard work of doing these poses.
- Prasarita Padottanasana
Spread your feet apart keeping your legs straight and feet parallel to each other (pointing forward). As you inhale, lean your torso forward until your fingertips touch the ground. Then, as you exhale, lower your torso a little more and grab the big toe of each foot with the index and middle fingers of each hand (the crown of your head may touch the ground). These types of poses (split-legged tilts) help free up your back, neck, and shoulders completely.
New to yoga? At PIES Fitness Yoga Studio in Alexandria, VA we believe everyone should be able to experience the benefits of yoga. We strive to offer over 30 intimate classes weekly that are accessible to all, especially those new to yoga!