When the summer heat is intense, it can be difficult to stay cool. If there’s no air conditioning, it may seem nearly impossible. Keeping your cool becomes crucial since extreme heat can cause major health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Try these cooling techniques if you need to cool down your home (or yourself). But, if temps go too high, it’s best to find a nearby air-conditioned building like a library, a theater, or a cooling station.
Feeling Hot?
It’s not just you. In actuality, a brutal summer heatwave has been gripping most of the country for weeks. But, co-founder of Inner Dimension TV and yoga and meditation instructor Travis Eliot urges you to take a few deep breaths. Doing a few breathing exercises will help you relax psychologically as well as naturally lower your body temperature, which will make you feel cooler.
Breathing Techniques to Cool Off
When it comes to feel-good breathing techniques, Eliot, who was first introduced to meditation at the age of nine, is the authority you want on your side. Eliot returned to yoga and meditation, focusing on these two practices — both of which are strongly tied to breathwork — to refocus himself after going through difficult times.
In a study that was focused on breathing techniques to warm the body, researchers from the National University of Singapore revealed that it is feasible for the brain to control core body temperature. They found that certain meditation practices can increase core body temperature, which could aid in increasing immunity to combat infectious diseases or immunodeficiency.
At the very least, breathing exercises are a tried-and-true method for calming the mind and nervous system, resulting in a person feeling calmer, which can slow the heart rate and activate the rest-and-digest system (or parasympathetic nervous system), making you feel better and aiding in taking your mind off the stress and discomfort from the heat.
Alternate Nostril Cooling Breaths
Put your right thumb over your right nostril while comfortably seated. For four counts, inhale through your left nostril. Take your thumb out of your right nostril at the peak of the inhale, cover your left nostril with your right ring finger, and take four counts of breaths out of your right nostril. Repeat between five and ten times.
Unequal Ratio Breaths
You can do this breathing exercise while sitting or lying down in a comfortable position. Inhale for four counts via your nose. Next, exhale via your nose for eight counts. Repeat between five to ten times.
The Perfect Breath
You can do this breathing exercise while sitting or lying down in a comfortable position. 5.5 seconds should pass between inhaling via the nose and exhaling it. This is equivalent to 5.5 breaths per minute, or 5.5 liters of air being moved. 5.5 minutes total of practice.