7 Summer inspired things I am doing to improve the practice

For us, in the brutally cold North East, summer is the time to take our shoes off, dance in the rain, open our hearts, say our prayers and have a good old time.  Basically it feels as if the mad woman in the attic is bursting down the stairs and getting ready to rejoice in every possible little wonderful thing.

The 7 practice boosters I wrote about in the Spring have been transformed into a Summer version of the post and here they are:

1.- Avoiding the sun

I happen to be a very pitta type of person, if you put me under the sun I will burn like a delicate flower, therefore I avoid being on the street during peak sun time (11 to 3), and in general avoid the extreme heat at all times.  

I am also now much more aware of how the high sun of noon in an over populated city like New York brings out the “rajas” (aggressive) energy in people.  Perhaps the sensitivity developed through paying attention in yoga practice makes me much more aware of the massive electric vibration of New York.  So I avoid being outdoors in any intense city during the sun peak hours too.

Whatever “keeps things cool” is almost a mantra. 

2.-Stretching deeper

Summer is the time to stretch that body as the heat generated by the practice is reaching a peak, and although my teacher seems to think I do not generate enough, let me tell you, I do feel the  sweat running through me.  Therefore, while at asana (poses) practice, in all forward bends I am using the inhale to straighten the back as far out as I can, and the exhale to feel and push that stretch.  Of course this is done with full awareness, maintaining a deep silence and commitment to listening to the body.

Backbends also seem to be receiving an extra push from the warmer temperatures.  Even in the cooler morning hours the amount of heat is enough to feel supple in urdhva danurasana and to prolong the breathing. 

3- Eating less

This is not something I planned on, it is something that just happens.   I suppose with the heat the body enjoys feeling as light as possible, and hunger is not so intense.  This does not mean I am eating as healthy as I was in the spring though (as exemplified here), there is plenty of sugar coming in in the form of sorbets and fruit made pops as well as cookies. Even though that may not be a practice “booster”, I suppose being happy and “having my way as if I was a kid” once in a while does have a positive repercution.   Feels like I am respecting my gunas. Mindfully, of course.

4. – Practicing half and half (home/shala)

Some days I am now practicing at home, not only because in my new location the shala happens to be far away, but also because I find that self-practice is conducive to trying poses more than once, and exploring in general.

Practicing alone sometimes is a gift, it gives me a complete new perspective, and having access to a gifted teacher like John when I can come to the city is a blessing. 

5-Keeping up the good reads

I am putting the “lazy days of summer” logo of american living to the test. By my bed side I keep The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Gita. I just received “The Great Oom” about the improbable birth of yoga in America, which I am looking forward to review and also “Prathyahara and Dharana” by Swami Vivekananda.  

On a completely different line of thought, BF ordered a spectacular book called The Rational Optimist, on how prosperity evolves, which is making me re-thing many of my foregone conclusions and pessimisms. Grateful for his recomendation.  For more great reads check out the recent 10 must read yoga books for this summer.

6- Modifying pranayama practice

I have written about how I came back to my pranayama practice and details of what exactly I do in it, however, I have noticed that in very hot days, the ujjaji pranayama heats up my system, even when practicing the cooling shitali practice afterwards.  So I have suspended it for a while,  trusting that my body will adjust to the summer heat, so that I can continue with it.  For now then I am only doing preparations, kapahabhati and nadi shodhana.

7-Venturing into Pratyahara

My curiosity for the fifht limb of ashtanga has been growing. 

“The first lesson, then, is to sit for some time and let the mind run one.  the mind is bubbling up all the time. It is like that monkey jumping about. Let the monkey jump as much as he can; you simply wait and watch… Until you know what the mind is doing you cannot control it. Give it the full lenght of the reins….”   Swami Vivekananda, from this funny little book whose format looks like a children’s fairy tale: Pratyahara and Dharana

So, what about your practice? has it changed because of the heat? are you modifying things? what are you doing differently?