Let’s be honest — there’s a special kind of humility that comes with attempting Warrior II when it’s 95 degrees and your mat has become a Slip ‘N Slide. Heat doesn’t care about your alignment goals. It just wants to watch you sweat.
And I know not everyone reading this is in the tropics right now. Wherever you are, summer heat is summer heat, and your practice probably needs to shift a little to match it.
Here’s how I keep showing up on the mat without turning my session into a cautionary tale.
Time it right. The sun is not your yoga buddy at noon. Shift your practice to early morning or after sunset, when temperatures are kinder and the air actually moves. Sunrise practice on deck might be the closest thing to a spiritual experience you get all week — and yes, I’m biased, but try it once and tell me I’m wrong.
Hydrate before you think you need to. In the heat, you’re losing fluids and electrolytes faster than you realize, even before you start moving. Plain water alone won’t cut it — you need replacement minerals too. I always keep doTERRA’s Recharge electrolytes on hand (wild strawberry is my personal weakness) and drink a glass before practice, not just after. Waiting until you’re thirsty means you’re already behind.
Protect your skin without poisoning it. If you’re practicing outdoors, sunscreen is non-negotiable. But so many conventional sunscreens are loaded with chemicals you wouldn’t want soaking into your skin daily, let alone washing off into the ocean when you take a dip after practice, a workout, or time in the engine room. doTERRA’s mineral sunscreenis a favorite of mine — formulated with essential oils, so it protects and nourishes instead of just sitting there like sunblock sludge.
Move air, even if you can’t make it cooler. If you’re practicing below deck, a small fan can be the difference between a session that feels possible and one that feels punishing. And don’t sleep on this for nighttime either — a fan plus a cold shower before bed works wonders when it’s too hot to get decent rest. Sleep matters just as much as your practice does.
Soften your practice. This is not the season for personal records. Here’s where I’ll admit something that might surprise my regular students: this actually goes against my usual seasonal teachings, where we lean into more vigorous vinyasas during the heat of summer to match the season’s energy. But that’s the thing about yoga — and life — it’s not one-size-fits-all advice. Know your body, know the weather, and listen. Some days that means flow. Other days it means slow, supported holds in Child’s Pose or Reclined Bound Angle while your nervous system quietly thanks you and your ego grumbles a little.
Choose your fabric wisely. Heavy cotton holds onto sweat and clings in all the wrong places. Lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics keep you cooler through every downward dog.
Listen for the warning signs. Dizziness, nausea, that weird “the horizon is wobbling” feeling — your body’s polite way of saying stop. Heat exhaustion sneaks up. Don’t wait for a dramatic signal.
Just to be clear, this isn’t your trendy hot yoga class, where you sweat it out for an hour and then climb back into your air-conditioned car and go home to your air-conditioned life. This heat doesn’t clock out. It’s the heat you eat breakfast in, the heat you sleep in, the heat that’s still there at 2am when you’re wondering why your sheets feel like a sauna. That kind of heat can sneak past “intense workout” into heat exhaustion or heat stroke territory if you’re not paying attention. Modify, stay consistent, stay safe — and still get that post-practice glow instead of looking like you survived a sauna.
And speaking of staying cool and adapting your practice to wherever life (or the wind) takes you — the updated edition of Yoga Onboard is officially in the hands of my editor, who is currently doing her editing from a boat in the Bahamas (could there be a more fitting place?). While she works her magic, I’m diving into the design layout, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to get this book into your hands. If you want to grab it at pre-sale pricing before it’s out in the world, you can do that RIGHT HERE .
See ya sooner schooner!
