According to Five Element Theory in Chinese Medicine, Summer is the season filled with abundant energy, long days…and sunshine! Especially in Texas! It’s the most yang time of the year and if we’re not mindful about how we’re keeping our self cool all that heat can lead to heat exhaustion, burn out, or a bit too much pitta (or fiery) energy in our systems.

There are many different ways we can manage the heat of summer – through our food choices, simple lifestyle modifications, and by approaching our yoga practice in a way where we are using the poses to help cool our systems down rather than adding to the already abundant heat. This does not mean that you need to avoid “heating” classes, like Vinyasa, and just focus on the “cooler” ones like the Restorative; rather it’s the mindfulness and subtle modifications that you bring to whatever your practice of choice that will help keep you in balance.

As we all know, fire has the power to transform, but if the fire is burning out of control than it could become destructive. Fire is also symbolic of outgoingness, and moving outward in nature and in our lives. In human anatomy, the heart, mind, and spirit are ruled by the fire element. Thus, top priority should be given to the heart, mind, and spirit for staying healthy in summer. In this workshop we’ll do just that.

We’ll discuss which yoga postures are the most heating & how we can cool them down or harness the energy of their heat skillfully. We’ll explore breathing techniques that have quick cooling effects on our bodies. We’ll touch on mudras that can also help to cool down our systems. And, of course we’ll touch on foods that can help keep the organs associated with fire and summer, our hearts & small intestines, cool and functioning happily.

http://abileneyogahouse.com/workshops/