Just a few things to mention. It’s your time to catch up on missed episodes while I’m away. Check the website for links to The heat is on: how weather affects our health and Accessible Yoga.
For more tips on how to beat the heat, visit the Brain & Life website.
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High temperatures can exacerbate symptoms for someone with a chronic health condition. The best way to cope may be to seek refuge in an air-conditioned environment. If that proves to be difficult, you may learn about a few tools and resources from patient advocates, You’ll meet Kate Mitchell, from Boston, who has Rheumatoid Arthritis and POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Danny van Leeuwen, also in Boston, who has Multiple Sclerosis, and Brook McCall, in Portland, Oregon, who has a spinal cord injury. They share their experiences with weather — hot, cold, ice, snow, and pressure changes.
Check out the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website for information about pre-cooling techniques.
Water’s great but so are some other beverages. The Ayurvedic tradition focuses on herbs, spices, and other plant-based remedies to cool you down. Check this magazine article for a few recipes. If you’re intrigued by Ayurveda, have you listened to last year’s podcast episode?
Consider eating smaller, lighter meals. Here’s a list of hydrating foods.
Check out this issue of the UC-Berkeley Wellness Newsletter for tips on appropriate clothing for hot weather.
This is discussed in the link above.
Curl your tongue and breathe. To learn more about this cooling yoga pranayama and other cooling asanas, visit this webpage.
Listen to this guided meditation to help you cool down…once you’re safe inside or in a shaded area.
Additional resources: From Brain & Health magazine.