by Sheela Rani Chunkath
The summer holidays are on. The heat has been unrelenting. The mercury in Chennai has touched 40° C. If you were a true Ayurvedic follower you would know that the summer season is the season to take rest. The British had the right idea. They closed the courts, shifted their offices to cooler climes and chilled out. But we, despite our enviable Ayurvedic heritage, do just the opposite. Let me start my practice for the marathon, let me do that 40 km cycle ride I was always wanting to do, visit that gym I have been meaning to go are some of the resolutions we start implementing. Without sounding like a wet blanket, I try to tell them, that summer is not the time for intense activity. It is vayu time when the sun tries to dry and shrivel you without you adding to the process by running around.
The marathon fever has caught on in Chennai and in my opinion it is hardly suitable for Chennai weather. Slick marketing makes it a health target and a socially desirable activity. I wonder how many runners have had major health setbacks following a marathon run.
So when the air is ruksham or drying stay hydrated and stay indoors. Do very little exercise. Do some gentle yoga or meditation and eat sparingly. I am a mango fan and eat those fruits instead of a meal. There is a traditional practice of soaking the whole mango in cold water for a while to bring down its 'heating properties'. Do watch out if you a have pitha constitution, you could get heat boils. I am one of the lucky ones who can tolerate a meal of mangoes quite well.
Meditation is the activity I would choose for summer to keep fit and well. Learn new breathing techniques; learn cooling pranayamas like sheetali and sheetkari. So more of breathing and regulation of the breath, be assured that you will keep healthy and fit. If you need to lose weight is summer do it not by exercising madly but by eating sparingly. Reduce the number of full meals, stay hydrated and you likely to go through summer feeling well. Many of my friends who are addicted to marathon running are convinced that what are they are doing will improve their health. It is likely that it may but there are attendant dangers and risks which our ancient rishis have pointed out when they proscribed intense activity in summer.
So if you want to enjoy a run because you feel good, do so but keep in mind that this is an activity for cooler climes. Simple meditation techniques will bring the quality of sattva (peace and purity) into your life when all around you there is rajas ( activity and fire). So choose a meditation technique that suits your temperament. There are more than 200 techniques so you should be able to find one that suits you. Till you find someone who can teach you a technique, start by sitting quietly in sukhasana (cross legged on the floor) with your spine erect and eyes closed and watching your breath for 5-10 minutes. You can sit on a chair if you are not comfortable sitting on the floor. The mind is calmed and your brain releases calming hormones such as anandamides and endorphins to keep you feeling relaxed.
For those who need to be more active, you can try walking meditation a type of slow mindful walking that looks a bit funny at first but is quite soothing and relaxing.It goes like this 'raise your heel, lift your foot, stretch your leg in front, place your foot in front, then put the heel down'. This is one step. Repeat with other leg and keep walking slowly forward with your entire awareness on the walking motions. A far cry from a marathon, but a healthier option in summer!
--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/