Living Seasonally with Yoga: Balance the Fire Element of Summer with Yin

Living Seasonally with Yoga: Embracing the Fire of Summer
Just like the earth moves through seasons of growth, stillness, shedding, and renewal, so do our bodies and minds. When we are living in harmony with nature’s cycles, it becomes easier to notice how each season brings with it a distinct energy - allowing and inviting us to shift our pace, focus, and yoga practice accordingly. Yoga, especially Yin Yoga, offers a beautiful way to align with these natural rhythms.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season corresponds with an element. Summer is associated with the Fire element, which symbolizes warmth, joy, connection, and outward expression. Think hot summer days, outdoor concerts, picnics in the park, time with family and friends. Summer is a time when energy is at its peak, inviting us to open our hearts, build relationships, and live with passion. But fire can also burn too brightly, leading us to feel restless, exhausted or overwhelmed. This is why tending to our own fire - keeping it steady rather than letting it rage - is essential.
Yin Yoga offers gentle practices to balance the fire element by nourishing the Heart and Small Intestine meridians, which run through the chest and inner arms. One beautiful pose for summer is Melting Heart Pose or Anahatasana. This heart-opening posture gently stretches the spine and chest, helping to release tension and cultivate emotional balance.

Try it out at home:
Come to hands and knees and walk your hands forward, letting your chest melt toward the floor while keeping your hips above your knees.
Rest your forehead or chin on a block or blanket. You can also place a bolster or pillow under the chest for more support.
Relax here for up to 5 minutes, breathing into your heart space and allowing yourself to soften.

Let this be a daily ritual to reconnect to joy, warmth, and compassion - replenishing and renewing your inner fire and living in harmony with this vibrant summer season.

Love,

Meg x

Join Meg every Tuesday evening at Oca for a Restore practice – a space to move with presence, breathe deeply, and stay connected to what matters.