Welcome to the second stage of our seasonal yoga journey. This stage, dedicated to the Fire element, aligns with the vibrant energy of mid-summer. It’s a time to introduce healthy home habits focusing on skincare, nutrition, because this will promote overall well-being. As a yoga teacher, you’ll be guiding class members through seasonal teaching tips, try giving them extra value when coming to your class by increasing the intensity of practices to match the season’s energy.
Seasonal Living Tips
1. Complexion Care: Nurturing Your Skin
Summer is an ideal time to focus on your skin. Here are some tips to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion:
- Use Oils: Incorporate natural oils, such as rose oil, into your skincare routine to keep your skin hydrated and radiant.
- Massage: Regular body massages, either self-administered with exfoliating gloves or by a professional, can enhance circulation and improve skin texture.
- Exfoliation: Regular exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, revealing a fresher, more radiant complexion.
2. Nourishing Your Body for the Fire Element
Diet plays a crucial role in balancing the Fire element within your body. Here are some dietary tips to maintain your pH balance:
- Avoid Acidic Foods: Steer clear of excessive carbohydrates, sugar, and white products that can disrupt your stomach’s pH balance. see summer nutrition here.
- Cooling Foods: Opt for water-based foods like cucumbers, salads, and fresh fruit, especially if the weather is warm. Eating locally sourced produce is even better.
- Eat Clean and Raw: Embrace clean eating by incorporating raw foods into your diet. Summer is also an excellent time to start juicing.
3. The Feel-Good Factor
Summer is the season to focus on activities that bring joy and enhance well-being:
- Outdoor Exercise: Engage in outdoor exercises you love, this could be running, cycling, or yoga in the park.
- Self-Reflection: Take time to reflect on what makes you feel good. As a yoga teacher, remember to prioritize your own well-being to better guide others.
Recommended Postures for Summer
Teachers – This stage of the season emphasises the importance of rhythm in breath and movement. Continuing from the first stage of summer, now focus on movements that energise the meridian lines and gently stretch the shoulder muscles.
Focus on the Subscapularis Muscle
The subscapularis muscle, located behind the scapula, is energetically connected to the heart. Targeting this area can enhance heart health and overall vitality. Be mindful in teaching postures about moving from this area under the shoulder blade, move from the muscle (subscapularis) out to the extremity.
- Warrior II with Palms Turned Up: Squeeze shoulder blades together, feeling the palms ‘sunbathing’ as they face the ceiling.
- Sun and Moon Circles in Warrior II: Link these movements to create a fluid, rhythmic sequence.
- Reverse Prayer Pose Pyramid pose Incorporate this pose to enhance flexibility and strength in the shoulders and upper back.
- Hands Clenched Behind the Back in Prasarita Padottanasana C: This pose deepens the stretch across the chest and shoulders.
Heart-Opening Poses
Heart-opening poses are particularly beneficial during the Fire element season by promoting chest opening, improved circulation, and emotional well-being. Emphasize the movement from the area under the shoulder blades, prepping the muscles for greater mobility and core stability in the late summer season.
For more on how emotions can affect the body, check out this interesting article about the shoulder: The Spiritual Meaning of Pain in the Right Shoulder.
Additional Resource
As we embrace the Fire element, remember to focus on nurturing the body, mind, and spirit. This holistic approach to seasonal yoga will help you and your class members align with the vibrant energy of mid-summer, because this promotes overall well-being and harmony.
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