Taming the Fire Inside

Developing a Home Yoga Practice in the heat of the summer.

Photo by Aldo Prakash on Unsplash

This is the information that I wish I had 10 years ago. It would have saved me a lot of misery. Who knows if I would have been receptive in the past. As the saying in yoga goes "when the student is ready, the teacher appears". After years of trying different things including doctor visits which usually ended in tears, I have done my own research and study into being an athlete in the post menopause phase of life. Heat management is a big issue for me, and I want to share what I have learned in case it helps one person.

Do you suffer from hot flushes/flashes?

Do you feel like your temperature regulator is broken?

Do you have night sweats that wreak havoc on your sleep?

Internet searches usually contain articles on 'what NOT to do'. Most us of know those to be less sugar, less processed food and less alcohol. This can be frustrating when looking for the positive things that work or at least will help to smooth out the symptoms for a better quality of life.

Restorative Yoga (RY) for hot flushes in peri and post menopause is the most effective for me. This is simple and easy. The hardest part is finding 20 minutes a day to gift yourself a quiet time. My willingness to try RY was not difficult because, 1) there are no side effects and 2) RY has many other benefits in healing the body. I was all in with the possibility of it being a game changer. After two weeks of consistent practice, there was a noticeable difference in my sleep as the night sweats decreased significantly. It was like going back in time. I was amazed and hooked.

The science of Ayurveda is an ancient medical system. It addresses how to best fuel body and mind types for the seasons of life or the time of year. It helps to identify imbalances and how to use food sources to get back in balance. There are three categories Pitta (fire), Vata (air) and Kapha (earth). Learning which foods work for me by not adding fuel to the fire inside has been enlightening. Summer comes and my fire gets hotter. I love coffee, spices, peppers, tomatoes and all the other foods that Pittas should avoid. It’s so crazy, what I like most throws me out of balance and heats me up even more. For me, being a hot natured person when the weather heats up my misery increases. Learning which foods have cooling properties has helped to make summer much more enjoyable.

Exercise is the best medicine for so many conditions and post menopause is no different. A book that brings all this together and explains the science of it is by Dr. Stacy Sims, Next Level. I recommend this for anyone going through menopause, especially for athletes. Strength training regulates fluctuating hormones which helps with inflammation, moods, cognitive functions, bone health and metabolism. A full gym access is not necessary. A few weights and exercises that target push, pull, lift, squat and core.

Maybe you are a hot natured naturally or have a fiery personality and in the summer heat the fire inside and outside may seem unbearable.  Do you give up running in the summer or doing other activities because you turn into a puddle of sweat?

I have several factors that keep me heated up all year, but during the summer months it can become unbearable.  Naturally, I am a fiery person in Ayurveda terms a Pitta with a strong desire for water to cool the jets.  I have Rosacea which makes me highly sensitive to heat, if extreme then it shows up on my face in breakouts. I am also in the menopausal phase of life which increases the need for yoga and anything that promises a relief from hot flushes and night sweats.   

After many years of research I have found the lifestyle that works for me. The major difference makers are Restorative Yoga, strength training and plunging into water. These three incorporate rest, increased fitness and nourishment.  If you have access to open water or a pool then taking yoga to the water can be refreshing especially if you have a love of water.

This is a list worth sharing of things that have made a difference for me.

Restorative Yoga 20 minutes at least 3 times a week.

Strength training.

Bamboo pajamas and bed sheets.

Mint iced herbal tea no sugar.

Cucumbers in salad and in water.

Coconut anything.

Fruits and leafy greens.

And of course, little to no sugar or processed foods.

Better quality of life is worth the effort to make changes. After a couple weeks of introducing new habits, they will become routine and effortless in making choices.

Wishing you a fun filled summer!

Until next time…keep moving forward,