Say Goodbye To Heatwave! These Yoga Asanas Can Help Your Body Stay Cool Naturally (Image Credits: iStock)
As summer temperatures soar across the country, staying cool isn't just about cranking up the air conditioning. Yoga — the ancient practice that harmonises the body, mind, and breath — offers natural ways to regulate internal body temperature and beat the heat from within.
While most people associate yoga with flexibility or stress relief, certain yoga poses and breathing techniques are known to have a cooling effect on the body. These practices can help you manage heat-related fatigue, reduce internal heat, and improve overall well-being during hot weather.
Why Does the Body Overheat?
Before diving into cooling yoga techniques, it’s important to understand why the body gets overheated. According to Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, excess heat or "Pitta" dosha in the body can lead to irritability, skin rashes, acidity, and fatigue. This imbalance is usually aggravated in summer or when practising intense workouts.
Cooling yoga poses work by calming the nervous system, reducing internal inflammation, and encouraging slower, deeper breathing — all of which help reduce body temperature.
Best Yoga Poses to Cool the Body
Here are a few asanas (poses) that are gentle, effective, and perfect for calming the body during summer:
1. Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose)
This restorative pose opens up the hips and chest while encouraging deep relaxation. It helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers the heart rate and cools the body.
How to do it: Lie on your back, bring the soles of your feet together, and let your knees fall apart. Use cushions under your knees for support and breathe deeply.
2. Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose)
Often called the "chill-out pose," this asana enhances blood circulation, calms the nervous system, and reduces body heat.
How to do it: Lie on your back and lift your legs up against a wall. Relax your arms by your side and breathe slowly for 5–10 minutes.
3. Balasana (Child’s Pose)
Balasana is a gentle resting pose that relaxes the back, shoulders, and neck. It slows the breath and soothes the body’s internal systems.
How to do it: Kneel down, sit back on your heels, fold forward, and rest your forehead on the mat. Stretch your arms out or let them rest by your sides.
Cooling Pranayama (Breathing Techniques)
Certain pranayama techniques are specifically designed to reduce heat in the body:
1. Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath)
This technique involves inhaling through a rolled tongue and exhaling through the nose. It’s highly effective in lowering body temperature and calming the mind.
How to do it: Roll your tongue into a tube (or use the teeth for Sheetkari if you can’t roll the tongue), inhale through it, and exhale through the nose. Repeat 5–10 rounds.
2. Chandra Bhedana (Left Nostril Breathing)
Chandra means "moon" in Sanskrit, symbolising coolness. This breath involves inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right, activating cooling energy.
Best Time to Practice Cooling Yoga
Early morning or late evening are the best times to practice cooling yoga — ideally before 8 am or after 6 pm — when the temperature is relatively lower. Practising in a well-ventilated space, away from direct sunlight, further enhances the calming effect.
Other Tips to Stay Cool with Yoga
Avoid vigorous styles like Hot Yoga during summer.
Stay hydrated before and after your practice.
Wear breathable, cotton yoga clothes to allow heat to escape.
End your session with Savasana (Corpse Pose) to integrate the cooling effects.
Yoga offers a simple, natural, and highly effective way to keep your body cool — not just on the outside but from within. By practising cooling asanas and pranayama daily, you can beat the summer heat, reduce irritability, improve digestion, and feel more energised. Instead of reaching for another ice-cold drink, roll out your yoga mat and let your breath and body find balance the yogic way.
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