Summer is full of heat, energy and vitality.
Depending on your preference and body’s adaptability to the warmer climates, summer may increase your internal sense of harmony, or it may aggravate it.
We can support an improved state of balance throughout the year by making a conscious effort to live in harmony with the cycles of nature and adjusting our lifestyle to accommodate the arrival of each new season.
Below are 10 ways that you can support yourself during summer and the warmer months ahead:
Drink plenty of fluids and restore with electrolytes. When the weather is warmer, we tend to sweat more, thus excreting more minerals and electrolytes through our sweat. By re-hydrating with plenty of water and electrolytes, we can work to replenish what’s lost
Add a mid-day rest period, when the sun is at its peak. With the sun being out earlier in the day and setting later in the day, it’s at its strongest and most vital mid-day (figure 2/3pm). During that hour, give yourself 20-30 minutes of a resting period. Close your eyes and listen to a song or even laying in silence. This will help to restore your energy and combat any afternoon fatigue brought on
Add cooling foods to your diet. Think foods like melons (which have a high water content), cucumber, citrus and lots of herbs such as peppermint and cilantro
As always, prioritize your stress and keep your state calm. The more stressed, the more heat is built up in your body. All the best practices you know to limit and combat your stress levels, kick those in high gear during the warmer months to help keep your energetic state cool and balanced.
Eat smaller portions, more frequently. During the warmer months, our digestive fires are in full force, which boosts metabolism at a faster rate than in the colder months. If you find yourself more hungry during the summer and eating more often, it’s completely normal! Stick to smaller portions, so you don’t find yourself in a heavy food coma that further drains your energy.
Dress in light weight fabric and cool colors. Fabrics such as organic cotton, linen or jersey will help to keep your body cool and counter heat.
Sleep on your right side. Sleeping on this side helps to activate the lunar pathway in the left nostril, which is calming and cooling.
Exercise early in the day or after sun peak hours. Avoid working out when the sun is at its peak, to keep from further dehydrating you and exhausting your energy. End your workout with a few rounds of breathing and exhaling from the mouth, to allow excess heat built up to leave the body.
Moisture daily. Dry skin during the summer? Each day after showering, mix a body oil into your body lotion and apply liberally. Especially if you’ve spent the day in the sun, your skin will feel dehydrated and want some hydration. The more moisturized your skin is, the cooler it will feel.
Stay clear of iced caffeine. While the belief is that iced drinks will cool your body, iced coffee and caffeinated tea will not. Caffeine dehydrates the body, so be sure to have a glass of water before and after your cup of coffee, to provide your body with the hydration it needs.