Mat Matters, Episode 43: Cooling Down Your Yoga Practice

It's really hot in our house. As I type this, it's 6:34am, and I'm already practically sweating (on the verge).

Does this make you think that we don't have AC in our house or something? Oh, it does? Well guess what? We do have AC. We're just "not using it" because my sweet husband, Ben, wants to see if we can go through an entire summer on the Cape without it. 

At first I was on board--"Yeah, the Cape is so cool at nights, this is great! We can totally do it!"--but come this first week in July, I'm crumbling quickly. The humidity skyrocketed over just a couple of days, and things have gotten pretty sweltering inside our little bungalow. I think that if it doesn't de-humidify outside soon, I'm going to have to make a bold move on my own...

Oh, just to be clear, I'm from Atlanta. Hotlanta. I know what it means to feel humidity so heavy that your clothes are damp all the time and you think you might pass out on the walk from your car to the local Tarjay--and I can handle it. But I also like to be comfortable, if I have the choice. Not freezing cold, just not sweating while I paint, please.  

I'd also rather not wake up in the night with a headache, soaking wet, despite sleeping with no covers AND two (TWO!) powerful fans pointed at my body. 

So. Marriage, huh?

Anywho, now that I've gotten that ventfest off of my chest, lets get to it: because I've found myself in the above sitch this week, I decided to make this week's Mat Matters episode all about cooling down your yoga practice for summer.

In the vid I share some of my favorite types of cooling yoga poses, my fave cooling pranayama technique (Sitali Pranayama), and my fave accoutrement for a little extra cooling sensation ;)

Stay kewl, everyone!