Hydrating with yogasanas

Certain yoga postures are designed to help your body and mind hydrate, cool down and prevent a burnout, especially in this scorching heat, says Kiran Sawhney.

A s the temperature rises, our patience and general tolerance levels plummet. But it's not just because we're crazy from the heat. According to Ayurveda, the ancient school of Indian medicine, summer is the season of pitta, or fire. And while that fire has a purpose (to provide the heat needed to spark action and digest food and emotions), too much of that energy can be toxic. If you let your inner heat spiral out of control, you expose yourself to a whole range of 'burning' issues, such as acid reflux, ulcers, sunburn, rashes, impatience, frustration, anger and anxiety. To regulate your temperature - and your temper - think of your workout as a chance to cool down.

Yogasanas can help cool, hydrate and replenish your body. To make a body cool down after asanas that are very challenging, I recommend these asanas. These are cooling postures designed to help your body and mind hydrate and cool down and prevent a burnout. These are simple and easy moves that help to loosen up chronically tight areas. Take deep breaths and turn internal air conditioning on. It helps you decompress.

Waterfall pigeon

- It stretches and loosens the hips and spine. It gives breath to the body and calms the heart and the nerves. Resting the forehead also makes the mind quiet and helps to restore the breath and bring back the focus.

- You can do it with back straight up or try another version where you exhale, lean forward and bend the head down. Your heart bows down and you are in complete
surrender.

- You may repeat it. Inhale and roll up, exhale and roll down. You can do it 10 times.
Breathing goddess

- It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (which runs the “rest and digest”
functions of the body), bringing you into balance.

- Lie on your back in the goddess pose - soles of feet together and knees bent, falling away from each other to form a diamond shape.

(Alternative)

- Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly and inhale, feeling the belly and ribs expand.

- Lie still for at least one minute.

- Feel your breath become smooth and slow.

Supported shoulder stand

- It is an inverted posture, but you

support it with your hands.

- It is called sarvangasana because it is good for all organs.
- It is mild but requires muscular effort.
- It encourages lymphatic fluid to flow toward the heart, sweeping out toxins and boosting circulation.

(Alternative)

You can do the same pose with knees bent directly over hips, which lets the legs relax even more and releases the hips.

Taming the lion

- It releases all the tension.
- Your face, jaw, mind and heart  become calm and tension-free.
- To do this, stand straight.
- Then bend your knees and lift the arms up to the sky.
-Keep the posture soft and do not lock the joints.

(Alternative)

-Exhale and fold your torso over your legs, knees bent, and swing your arms down and back, exhaling with a ‘ha’ sound and sticking your tongue out.
- Inhale, keeping knees gently bent, and sweep your arms up to the starting position.
- Repeat five to ten times.
Belly savasana
-It allows you to let go of the tension in the belly and reconnect your centre to the earth.
- Lie on your belly with
elbows out to the sides, one cheek on the floor for rest, five minutes. If you have
low-back discomfort, flip over, or push back into child’s pose (knees folded under,
upper body and forehead on floor).

(The author is a personal fitness expert & owner, Fitnesolution, New Delhi)