3 Yoga Asanas to Beat the Heat and Keep Cool During Summers

While we all love a lil' bit of sunshine, the sultry weather brings with scorching heat and unbearably high temperatures. This, in turn, compels us to alter our daily lifestyle—our diet, skincare requirements and workout—in accordance with the weather.

"Our body heat tends to increase during the summer months, causing uneasiness. Hence, one has to tailor their lifestyle practices to reduce body heat. Specific yoga asanas can prove to be beneficial in bringing down the heat generated by your body,” explains Kaavita Das, founder of The Pink Lotus Academia, an online tutorial platform focused on Indian classical art forms and yoga.

To cope with the sweltering summer and keep your body temperatures balanced, Kaavita Das—yoga trainer, aerialist and a creative movement therapy facilitator—shares three basic yoga poses that are known to offer holistic cooling benefits to the body.

Matsyasana (The Supported Fish Pose)

When the nervous system's fight, flight or flee response is activated, the core body temperature increases. The supported fish pose, popularly known as 'matsyasana', calms your entire nervous system down, providing cooling benefits to your body. The yoga asana also serves to be a chest opener, relaxes the shoulders and neck, and stretches the front half of your body. 

How to Perform: 

1. Lie on your back and place a pillow, bolster or rolled-up yoga mat under your shoulder blades.

2. Recline over the prop so that the chest is lifted upwards, towards the roof. 

3. You may place your arms wherever comfortable—alongside your hips, to the side in a 'T' shape, or extend them overhead. Relax your legs completely. 

 

Anahatasana (Melting Heart Pose or Extended Puppy Pose)

'Anahatasana', also referred to as the melting heart pose or extended puppy pose, quite literally invites the heart to melt down towards the ground, stretching the spine in both directions. Besides serving cooling benefits to the body, this yoga asana stretches the spine, shoulders, upper back and arms, making it ideal for those who tend to hold tension in these particular areas. The pose also serves therapeutic benefits, relieving stress and anxiety, as well as chronic tension and insomnia. 

How to Perform: 

1. Lower down to your knees and take a tabletop position, while keeping your belly engaged.

2. Spread your hands in front of you and release your heart towards the earth.

3. Rest to the count of 5 deep breaths.

 

Marjariasana and Bitilasana (Cat and Cow Pose)

When we hold tension in the body, we block our chakra energy centers and end up generating excess heat. Practicing yoga asanas that serve cooling benefits and relieve neck tension allow you to open up your energy centers, regulating your body temperature and keeping you cool. 

How to Perform: 

1. Begin in a tabletop position, with your knees in-line with your hips and your shoulders in-line with your wrists.

2. Inhale as you drop your belly down and lift your tailbone skyward to attain the cow pose. Hold this position for a few breaths.

3. Exhale as you round your back and tuck your chin towards your chest to attain the cat pose. Hold this position for a few breaths.