Over the many years I have spent teaching and practising in the heat, I have found it to be a very powerful teacher.

Its taught me that even in the most difficult conditions I can remain calm. Its fiercely taught me to connect with myself when things are tough. Its taught me how to use my breath to get me through the challenges in my class as well as my life.

I’ve learnt to go slowly, find my boundaries, place emphasis on my breathing and pace myself. Its taught me to get out of my head and feel what’s going on in my body. That connection has taught me to respect, love and take care of my body.

Through its process I’ve become educated in how to be more present within myself and in my life. And through slowly opening me physically, mentally and emotionally its taken me me on this amazing yoga journey and given me so much joy. At times its completely humbled me too.

I can proudly say its become a very dear friend that knows me so well. And its always there to help, support, nourish and guide me through my life. I don’t know what I’d do without it!!

Whether you are conscious of it or not you are having a relationship with the heat whenever you practice. In fact its a big part of your practice and what your experiencing. Its a very fluid evolving relationship and the experience will be different from class to class. Some days you wont even notice its there and other days its force is really penetrating.

The heat is an energetic force and its influence upon you is profound. By opening your body so you can perform the postures with less restriction and greater mobility, it will help to clear a lot of your physical and energetic blockages. By making you sweat, it will help your body eliminate some of its toxic load. Because of the intensity your mind becomes very sharp and focused because you have to become present. Everything is heightened and so you become conscious of your body and what is happening to you.

There are many factors involved which affect your experience of the heat

1. mental attitude – this has the greatest influence. Resisting the sensations, wiping the sweat and fighting with the heat will always make it stronger. When its got you, you just have to say yes and feel whatever you are feeling.
By deciding to accept how you’re feeling in any given moment and not pushing it away, you will grow. Exposing yourself to something which is uncomfortable and sticking with it, pushes your boundaries and you learn a lot about yourself and what you are capable of in the process. You develop new powers of resilience, tenacity and mental strength.

2. preparation – Your core temperature will go up very quickly if you’re not hydrated. Drinking water before class is absolutely crucial to keeping you feeling well during class. Dehydration will make you feel hot, dizzy and maybe even nauseous. If you’ve become dehydrated then you must replace your body’s salts with electrolytes. Coffee and alcohol need to be avoided if you know you’ll be practising and if you have indulged, drink extra water.

3. breathing. We emphasise nasal breathing and this is because you need to control your oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body but also to keep your nervous system in a relaxed state. When you are relaxed the heat penetrates you less and you are able to deal with it so much more effectively. Its like your internal air conditioning, keeping you cool on the inside.
By putting your attention on your breathing it also gives your mind something else to focus on other than how hot you are. After awhile the heat wont touch you!
The breath also a great barometer of how you are doing and whether you need to slow down or even take a break. If your struggling to breathe so much that you need to open your mouth to take a breath you are overdoing it.

4. conditions such as humidity. If its a humid day even if the temperature is the same, the heat will have a greater intensity and a different feel so you will have to adjust by perhaps doing a bit less and being more conscious of how you are feeling and how you are breathing.

5. acclimatisation – by exposing your self to the heat regularly your body systems adjust and your nervous system starts to relax, so you feel more comfortable as time goes on to a point where you may feel the heat but not really notice it.

Like any fitness, to be fit for the heat it takes time, patience and for you to show up. Every day is different.

On our board in the juice bar we have written the question: “Tell us what is your relationship with the heat?”. We’d love to read your comments so please let us know on the board, next time you come in for class.