Summer Yoga Essentials: Cooling Poses to Beat the Heat on Your Dekoratus Mat March 22, 2025March 29, 2025 As temperatures rise and summer heat intensifies, our bodies naturally seek balance and cooling relief. The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda teaches us that summer months amplify the pitta dosha—characterized by heat, intensity, and transformation. Your yoga practice offers the perfect opportunity to create internal balance against the external warmth. In this guide, we’ll explore essential summer yoga poses to keep you cool and centered during the hottest months, all perfectly supported by your versatile Dekoratus yoga mat. Understanding Summer’s Effect on Your Body: The Ayurvedic Perspective The summer season brings light, warmth, and heightened energy that radiates at a high vibration. According to Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old science of health native to India, these months strongly activate the pitta dosha within our bodies. To maintain balance during this time, we must cultivate the opposite qualities internally—creating a cool, calm environment within while the world heats up around us. When the natural cycle of seasons brings us to the sunny summer months, it becomes essential to pacify the natural pitta inside our bodies. This balanced approach allows us to enjoy the full excitement and vibrancy that summer brings without being overwhelmed by too much internal heat. 6 Essential Cooling Yoga Poses for Summer Your yoga practice is one of the most effective tools for encouraging equilibrium during summer. The following cooling poses, practiced on your Dekoratus mat, will help send calming waves through your nervous system and support your body’s natural attempts to self-regulate: 1. Moon Salutations (Chandra Namaskar) Unlike their more energizing counterpart, Sun Salutations, Moon Salutations create a lunar, cooling energy in the body. These flowing sequences honor the receptive, reflective qualities of the moon and help reduce excess heat. Technique: Focus on fluid, gentle movements rather than dynamic ones. If transitioning between poses, try walking your feet forward instead of jumping to maintain the low vibratory feeling. 2. Supported Backbends Gentle, supported backbends open the front body while providing stability and comfort. Technique: Try Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) with a yoga block beneath your lower back. This moderate heart opener creates space without generating excessive heat. 3. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) This restorative inversion is perfect for hot summer days when you feel drained or overheated. Technique: Sit with one hip against a wall, then swing your legs up as you lay your torso down. Keep your tailbone flush against the wall and legs straight up. Rest here for 5-10 minutes, allowing gravity to improve circulation and cool your system. 4. Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana) A cooling alternative to more vigorous inversions, supported shoulder stand provides many benefits without generating excessive heat. Technique: Place a folded blanket or towel under your shoulders, allowing your neck to dip slightly off the edge for protection. Support your lower back with your hands as you extend your legs upward. 5. Forward Folds Forward folds naturally cool the body by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system—our “rest and digest” response. Technique: Practice Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana) or Wide-Legged Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana) with a gentle, surrendering quality rather than forcing the stretch. 6. Floor Twists Gentle twists help release heat from your core and massage internal organs. Technique: Try Supine Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana) lying on your back or Seated Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana) for a cooling, detoxifying effect. Cooling Breath Practices for Summer After completing your asanas, complement your practice with these cooling pranayama techniques: Shitali Pranayama (Cooling Breath) This specialized breathing technique has an immediate cooling effect on your entire system. Technique: Curl the sides of your tongue toward one another (forming a tube) and extend it slightly through your lips. Inhale through your rolled tongue as if drinking through a straw, then exhale normally through your nose. If curling your tongue is difficult, simply form a small ‘O’ with your lips instead. Repeat 5-20 times. Left-Nostril Breathing In yogic physiology, the left nostril connects to the Ida Nadi, the body’s cooling energy channel associated with lunar, calming qualities. Technique: Gently close your right nostril with your right thumb or index finger. Breathe slowly and deeply through only your left nostril for 5-20 breath cycles. Dietary Tips to Complement Your Summer Yoga Practice Your summer yoga practice works best when supported by seasonally appropriate foods. Consider incorporating these cooling nutritional elements: Hydrating fruits and vegetables: Watermelon, cucumber, leafy greens, and other high-water-content produce Light, easy-to-digest meals: Favor foods that don’t require lengthy cooking Cooling herbs and spices: Mint, fennel, cilantro, coriander, and cumin Electrolyte-enhanced hydration: Coconut water provides excellent cooling properties (enjoy in moderation) Indoor Activities for Peak Summer Heat On those scorching summer afternoons when outdoor activities become impractical, your Dekoratus yoga mat offers an ingenious solution for continued engagement and wellness indoors. Unlike traditional yoga mats, Dekoratus mats feature dual-purpose designs that transform from your yoga practice space into entertaining board games. Board Games on Your Yoga Mat: The Perfect Summer Afternoon Activity After completing your cooling yoga sequence, simply flip or reposition your Dekoratus mat to reveal built-in board games like chess or snakes & ladders. This innovative feature makes your yoga mat an all-day wellness and entertainment center—perfect for: Family game time during the hottest part of the day Mental stimulation to complement physical practice Screen-free entertainment options when summer heat forces you indoors Creating joyful associations with your wellness space The thoughtfully designed patterns remain subtle enough not to distract during your yoga practice yet clear enough for engaging gameplay when needed. Conclusion: Complete Summer Wellness with Dekoratus Your summer wellness routine requires balance—both in addressing the physical effects of heat on your body and in creating holistic lifestyle practices that support overall wellbeing. Dekoratus yoga mats uniquely support this balanced approach by providing the perfect surface for your cooling summer yoga practice while offering additional functionality for indoor entertainment during peak heat. By incorporating these cooling yoga poses, breath practices, and seasonal dietary adjustments, you create internal harmony during the most intense season. And when the summer sun makes outdoor activities challenging, your multipurpose Dekoratus mat transforms to offer engaging indoor activities that keep both mind and body active. How are you staying cool with yoga this summer? Share your favorite cooling poses or how you’re using your multipurpose Dekoratus mat in the comments below! FAQ About Summer Yoga Practice Q: How often should I practice cooling yoga poses in summer? A: Listen to your body, but generally, incorporating cooling poses daily during hot weather can help maintain balance. Q: Can cooling yoga poses help with summer sleep problems? A: Yes! Practicing cooling poses and left-nostril breathing before bed can help regulate body temperature for better summer sleep. Q: Is it better to practice yoga in the morning or evening during summer? A: Early morning or evening practice is ideal in summer to avoid the most intense heat of the day. Q: How do I clean my Dekoratus mat after summer practice? A: Wipe down your mat with a gentle yoga mat cleanser after sweaty summer practices to maintain hygiene, especially before using it for board games. Q: Can children practice these cooling yoga poses? A: Many cooling poses are perfect for children, making Dekoratus mats ideal for family wellness before transitioning to game time.
