The 5th summer Commandments in Naturopathy – 1st part

Preserved rest and sleep

In summer, our life changes as days become longer, brighter. We enjoy snacks with friends, family barbacoas and picnics forgetting to get a good night sleep. But remember that even if the daylight boosts us with energy, it is important to rest !

Heat can disturb our night as it is hard to fall asleep when it's hot outside (knowing that the best temperature to fall asleep stands around 18º C). Body temperature goes down (around 0.5 º C), lowering our heart and respiratory rhythm, preparing for sleep when round 4 or 5 am, body temperature rises again, preparing us to wake up.

To help our body to slow and cool down at night, you can take a fresh shower, cover your forehead, neck or body with a wet towel or even practise a “cooling breath” yoga (avoid if asthmatic).

Focus on cool breath yoga

First is Sheetali Pranayama, also known as Cooling Breath, a breathing practice that helps to cool body, mind and emotions while seated. Its name derives from sheetali, cooling in Sanskrit.

*Make a U with your lips. Curl the tongue out (hard for some of you but don’t worry… It’s genetic. Concentrate on the breathing part). Breath in through the mouth, breath out through the nose. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

Then comes Sitkari Pranayama, another breathing exercise. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word meaning sipping or hissing.

*Mouth closed, upper and lower teeth touching, press gently the end of the tongue against the teeth. Breath in through the mouth, breath out through the nose. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

Enjoying a nap

Welcome to the world of napping, perfect to reload your energy and even better when you didn’t have a good night sleep!

No alarm clock on, let your body wake up whenever it feels too. Careful though not to delay your supper or the hour you go to bed as the first hours of sleep (10pm to midnight) are the more regenerating ones as our organs (liver, bowels,lungs), which are not sleeping yet, are full of energy to regenerate.

The earlier you sleep, the better you pamper your immune system.

Resting and letting go during summertime help us gaining energy and lowering down our stress which is high all year long due to cortisol and adrenaline. Reducing stress means letting pleasure hormones coming back.

Taking care of your skin during summer 

Do you remember that skin is the largest organ of human body? More expose to the sun during summer, the body liberates pheromones, connecting us with more body sensations. Those nervous stimuli acts as excitement boosters.

Sunlight acts on hormonal stimulation, boosting pituitary glands which regulates the hormonal production.

During summer, oestrogen and testosterone production rises, so it’s the perfect time to find once again a quiet life and reconnect with your sexuality.

Many thanks to Maud Simonelli, Equilibre et Vous for her collaboration to UzEssentiel.com.

The right address: Equilibre et Vous, 1026 route de Nîmes, Uzès. Contact : 06 11 71 15 86, equilibreetvous.naturopathie@gmail.com. Equilibre et Vous Uzès is on Instagram.