How Somatic Practices can support your Mind and Body this Summer
Feeling the heat this summer? Incorporating simple practices to cool down and calm your mind and body will help. From Shitali Breath to Yin Yoga, there's something for everyone. Read on to learn more...
Developing a mind-body connection, somatic practices create an awareness and curiosity of your body’s sensations, movements, postures and felt experience. It is focused on what we experience from within, therefore noticing how we experience our body from the inside out (interoception), as well as how our body moves in our external environment (proprioception).
Studies show individuals commonly experience higher levels of stress and cortisol production, sleep disturbance, decreased mood and higher levels of irritability during hotter months. Why? Because during this time our bodies are exposed to extreme levels of heat and humidity, frequent changes in temperatures, dehydration and minimal access to nature in natural daylight. This biologically increases the risk of heat exhaustion, dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations and nausea, which are all symptoms that mimic anxiety and panic.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hot and cold temperatures are connected to different internal energy states with ‘Yang’ energy being associated with heat, action and movement. Whilst this energy state has its positives, it is important to rebalance and downregulate the physical and emotional body through calming and cooling somatic practices. This can also support individuals with health anxiety, agoraphobia or body image concerns which can be activated during the summer months.
Somatic practices can take the form of slow intentional movement such as Yoga, dance or Pilates, however, also involve breathwork, meditation, body-centred exercises and props. These practices create opportunities to become more attuned to your internal state and regulate your nervous system. The benefits of somatic practices is a deepening of our awareness and responsiveness to bodily cues, knowing when our system is overworked or flooded, understanding what our personal boundaries are and becoming acquainted with our internal voice. This internal voice is particularly important as it offers compassionate wisdom on what we truly need and require to feel optimal wellbeing, which is often slowing down, lowering high expectations and listening to our body.
6 Somatic Practices to Start Today
-
Shitali Breath
Shitali is a simple breathing technique that cools the body, adds moisture to the system, and soothes fiery overheated energy in the body. You simply curl the sides of your tongue and inhale and exhale through your mouth, starting with three minutes of Shitali breath.
- Yin Yoga
To balance the summer’s ‘Yang Energy’ why not try incorporating Yin Yoga into your evening routine? Focusing on passive restful postures, this naturally slow and still practice is the perfect way to calm down your mind and body during the intense summer months.
- Coconut Milk Bath Soak
For the ultimate cooling practice, try a calming bath soak. Organic, full fat coconut milk is rich in skin fatty acids and soothes the skin. All you need to do is add an empty can of organic coconut milk to your bath. Even better, you might add Epsom Salts which are rich in Magnesium, and known to aid stress relief, relaxation and help shift toxins out of your body.
- Ice Packs or Ice Cubes
When feeling overwhelmed or heated, placing a cooling object such as an ice pack or ice cube gently on the body not only soothes intense emotional states such as overwhelm, anxiety, and dysregulation but also strengthens the mind-body connection.
- Low Intensity Movement
A high-intensity workout during the summer months increases the risks of heat exhaustion. Instead, opt for activities around cooling water, long walks in the early morning or at sunset, and gentle movement classes.
- Svabhava Mudra – “Heart Seal”
This gesture represents the power of healing self-touch through challenging times. Try combining this heart-centred mudra with affirmations for your mind and body, which remind you that your body is not in any danger when experiencing heightened or uncomfortable sensations during the summer. It is your body’s natural way of managing the heat and cooling down.
Related articles
