Seasonal Yoga for Mind & Body: Finding Time to Reset in a Busy World
A woman’s body is sensitive to hormonal balances throughout her life cycle and easily influenced by changing seasons amidst a busy daily routine.
Particularly during the rainy season, shifts in air pressure and humidity can leave us feeling heavy, sluggish, or mentally clouded. During these times, taking just a moment to move your body and focus on your breath can make a significant difference.
“How am I breathing today?”
“Has my breathing become shallow without me realizing it?”
On hectic days or during prolonged rainy stretches, our shoulders and chest tend to tense up, leading to shallow breathing. When this happens, try sitting on a chair for just five minutes, whether it’s right after waking up, when you can’t seem to unwind after chores or work, or after looking at your smartphone for too long. Simply close your eyes and gently breathe in and out.
Just feeling your breath can gradually dissolve physical tension, creating a sense of mental space. When you have a little more time, try moving in sync with your breath. In yoga, we prioritize the breath over the perfect shape of a pose. Moving your body while tuning into your breath gradually harmonizes the mind and body, helping you navigate the heavy rainy season with lightness and ease.
To help you live healthily every day, we would like to introduce a yoga practice tailored to the season.
Align Your Spine and Refresh: Cat & Cow
1. Come to All-Fours (Tabletop Position)
Spread your palms wide with your middle fingers pointing forward. Place your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Keep your spine neutral and straight from the head to the tailbone.
2. Inhale: Gently Arch Your Back
Open your chest and lift your gaze diagonally upward. Be mindful not to lift your chin too high, as tension can easily accumulate in the neck.
3. Exhale: Round Your Back Press firmly into the floor with both hands as you round your spine. Gaze toward your navel, imagining moving your vertebrae one by one.
Tips:
Try to keep your shoulders and hips relatively stable, focusing on moving your spine smoothly. By the end of the practice, the tension around your back will be released, helping to balance your autonomic nervous system.
Seasonal changes can affect not only our skin, but also our emotional and physical well-being.
Just as your daily skincare ritual is a moment to care for your skin, taking time to breathe, move, and reconnect with yourself is a way to care for both your mind and body.
Mayuko | Yoga Instructor Active mainly in Saitama, Japan. Completed RYT200. Delivering gentle yoga for the mind and body. Cherishing moments to reset and find comfort in the midst of a busy daily life.