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Natural Awakenings South Jersey

Stay Cool and Strong This Summer

by Martha Kein 

Ah, it’s finally summer—a time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and to adjust our lifestyle and diet to match the season and connect with nature’s natural rhythms. Try sunlight, yoga, breathwork and, of course, delicious foods to enjoy a cool, strong summer. 

SUNLIGHT 

Go outside. Sunlight lifts our mood just like serotonin does. Get a quick happiness fix just by going for a walk in the morning sun. The rays also help stimulate the body’s production of vitamin D which aids in the absorption of calcium for strong, healthy bones. Get outdoors in the early morning or later in the day to avoid overexposure to the more damaging effects of the hottest midday summer sun.   

FOOD 

Summer can be hot and dry, so stay balanced with cooling foods. There are plenty of fresh, delicious choices that will help maintain balance plus keep us both cool and hydrated. 

Maintain balance with sweet, bitter or astringent foods 

  • Sweet foods help calm the nervous system and nourish tissues. Consider fruits, grains, nuts, milk and dates. 
  • Bitter foods, such as lettuces, spinach, dandelion and aloe vera, help cleanse the liver and tone our organs.  
  • Astringent foods help us absorb water and tighten our tissues. Think asparagus, legumes, green teas and pomegranates.  

Keep cool with fresh vegetables and herbs 

  • Sweet, juicy fruits help cool our insides. Examples include leafy greens, coconut, cucumber, cantaloupe and watermelon. 
  • Garnish salads and other dishes with cooling cilantro, parsley and alfalfa sprouts. 
  • Avoid food and drink that can increase our body temperature like hot drinks, spicy food, alcohol and caffeine.  

Stay hydrated with tasty drinks  

  • Make a homemade herbal tea with fennel, mint, lemon or chamomile.  
  • Try flavored water. Add a few slices of cucumber, a squeeze of lime or a favorite fruit.   
  • Experiment with coconut water. It’s hydrating and energizing. 

MOVEMENT 

Begin each day with gentle yoga stretches and abdominal twists to keep the and core healthy. While exercising, focus on relaxing and cooling positions. Examples include forward bends and seated twists. These types of poses develop flexibility and balance in both mind and body. Summer is a wonderful time to extend savasana, or relaxation pose, in order to relax in stillness. 

BREATHWORK 

Practice cooling pranayama after exercising. Left-nostril breathing will cool and calm the heat in both body and mind. Try it anytime we feel overheated, overwhelmed or sleepy. Simply block off the right nostril by putting gentle pressure on it with fingers or just the thumb, and slowly breathe in and out through the left nostril.  

Our health is our wealth, and summer is a perfect time to adopt any or all of these tips to celebrate our well-being. 

Martha Kein is school director of The American Yoga Academy, a world-renowned, online, yoga teacher training school that’s been training and certifying yoga instructors for 30 years, and where all are welcome. For more information or to connect with her, visit www.AmericanYogaAcademy.com. 

 

 

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