Newburgh Yoga Shala — June

Staying cool as the heat rises

Simple practices for the shift into summer — on the mat and at the table.

June is the hinge. The days are long, the light is abundant, and the body is starting to run warm. In Ayurveda, this is when Pitta — the fire-and-water dosha governing digestion, heat, and intensity — begins its seasonal climb. It's not a problem to be solved. It's an invitation to adjust.

Here are a few things we're thinking about this month, both in practice and in the kitchen.

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On the mat

Practice earlier

The coolest part of the day is before 10am. If you can get to your mat in that window, your nervous system will thank you. Mysore is already built for this.

Slow the breath

Sheetali and Sheetkari pranayama — the "cooling breaths" — are designed for this season. Inhale through a curled tongue or through the teeth, exhale through the nose. Even five rounds before practice helps.

Ease into backbends

Heat amplifies intensity. If backbends feel especially fiery right now, that's the season talking. Spend more time in the preparatory poses and let the full expression come naturally.

Sitali savasana

After practice, lie on your back with palms facing up and let yourself fully land. Resist the urge to jump up. Five minutes here is medicine in June.

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At the table

Ayurveda asks us to eat with the season. June calls for foods that are cooling, lightly sweet, bitter, and astringent — and away from anything too spicy, sour, or oily.

—Favor: cucumber, coconut, cilantro, mint, fennel, lime, watermelon, leafy greens, basmati rice, mung dal.

—Go easy on: chili, garlic, raw onion, fermented foods, alcohol, and red meat — all of these stoke Pitta.

—Start the day with room-temperature water with a squeeze of lime or a few mint leaves.

—Try CCF tea — equal parts cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds steeped in hot water. It supports digestion through the heat without aggravating fire. Drink it warm, let it cool a little before you sip.

—Eat your biggest meal at midday, when digestive fire is naturally strongest, and keep dinner light.

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The thread connecting all of this is the same one we return to on the mat: not suppression, but modulation. We're not trying to put the fire out. We're learning to tend it.

See you on the mat.

With love from the shala,
Bibi & the NYS team

Join us for practice!