Hi Everyone,
I know, I know…It’s a little soon to be talking about winter already…But what can I say, I want you all to be prepared for the cold to come! (for those who watch Game Of Thrones: Winter Is Coming, is it not?)
Personally, when it’s cold outside all I want to do is to sit in a nice heated room where I can still wear a nice t-shirt and comfy shorts- don’t you? The warmth on the skin and the freedom of not wearing ten layers is liberating. So! To cut to the chase, here’s how to make sure you’re well and truly ready to face on the winter days.
- First off, remember that winter never settles down without a whole bunch of people getting colds, flus, and other bugs…So, protect yourself! Keep your immune system up by covering up before going out in just your yoga outfit.
- Try arriving a little earlier to class, 10 minutes will allow your body to heat up again before class starts and you’ll be able to flex your body more this way without injuring yourself.
- To avoid getting sick, maybe ask your teacher not to assist you too much during practice. This is simply precautionary because the teacher will have touched everyone else in the class and thus transferring bacteria around onto other people and, potentially yourself.
- Speaking of bacteria, make sure you bring your own instruments to class. Yoga mats, blocks, towels, anything else you might require for yoga you should have your own instead of using the ones at the gym. This is for the same reason as the bullet point above, you don’t know who’s touched them before you and whether or not they were sick or a carrier of a sickness.
- Bring a change of nice fresh clothes for when you’ve finished your yoga practice. This way you won’t need to stay in your damp sweaty yoga gear for too long, thus helping your immune system.
And let’s not forget to save the best for last: poses that are best suited for winter months! During the colder season you will need a yoga practice that will help open the chest, sinuses and throat, this improving congestion and supporting the lungs. Here’s a list of five different poses that will aid clear phlegm and warm the kidneys:
- Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation), this will heat your body as a warm-up.
- Matsyasana (Fish Pose), this inverted pose will open your chest and throat.
- Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), also opens up the chest.
- Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), this supported inversion helps with stagnation of lymph, and
- Salabhasana (Locust Pose), strengthens the back whilst opening the chest.
End your practice with Shavasana (Corpse Pose)
In the mean time, enjoy the last rays of warm sunshine and late evenings!
Yogi Hugs from Yogamasti
