Salamba Supta Matsyendrasana
“Fire cannot quench fire, water does.”
We have entered July. July is historically the hottest month in Central Florida. People are busy visiting our fabulous city, creating all sorts of energy and work for our various theme parks and excellent restaurants. For some, July is when people are preparing vacations and creating arrangements for time off and potentially causing an internal heat of things that need to get done. July in Lake Nona can be busy, chaotic and running hot.
We are in the midst of summer, and the summer season is ruled by the Pitta dosha. Ayurveda is known as the sister science to yoga, and according to WebMD, it is the oldest, whole-body healing system developed in India thousands of years ago. Kristin Schneider, author of Your Life is Medicine, Ayurveda for Yogis, defines Ayurveda as simply intuitive. It is what we already know. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning the science of life or the wisdom of longevity.
Ayurveda is truly holistic and addresses the entire spectrum of the human experience. It is not just your bloodwork, diet and exercise. It is examining all of you: your thoughts, your daily rhythm, and your physical, mental, energy and spiritual levels. The goal of Ayurveda is to protect the health of a healthy person.
Ayurveda breaks everything down into a mixture of three doshas or constitutions that are derived from five elements – ether, air, fire, water and earth. Doshas translate to that which can be vitiated or that which can be impaired. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and everyone as well as everything is a personalized blend of the three. Seasons as well as the time of day are associated with a specific dosha. It is a reminder that life is constantly changing and ever-evolving. Vata correlates with the elements of air and ether. Pitta correlates with the element of fire and water. Kapha correlates with earth and water. Pitta is the dosha responsible for late spring and summer. And here we are, in the middle of the hottest month of the year.
Your yoga pose this month is salamba supta matsyendrasana, or supported reclined twist. Take some restorative practice to rejuvenate and cool the body during the heat-filled month.
- Stagger your legs so the right leg is bent in front while the left is bent behind.
- Place a bolster or firm pillow adjacent to your right thigh.
- Gently twist the body to lay on the bolster.
- Adjust for neck mobility, either looking forward or backward.
- Stay for 3-5 minutes gently observing the body and breath.
- Switch sides.
To practice Power and Yin with Ann, join her at Sunlight Yoga on Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m.
Stay cool. Drink lots of water.
Namaste.
