Caring for Your Summertime Body

When people talk about summertime, they can’t help but think about their physicality. So much so that it becomes a nuisance to talk about one’s body and getting in shape for the summer.

This is all part of the time and culture in which we live. It almost forces us to be something we aren’t and to push our bodies further just to gain validation from others and society. Okay, of course, there is a disclaimer: it is important for us to care for our bodies and exercise for our health’s benefit, but not to the point where we do it for others' approval or for vanity’s sake.

Exercise should be part of a yearly routine, not just in the summertime. Our bodies don’t deserve to be pushed beyond their capabilities to gain validation. We need to take care of them always, all year long.

While you do what is necessary to nurture your body for the summer through exercise, I think it’s equally important to nurture it through energy and its inner capacity. Our bodies are amazing and deserve to be cared for and nurtured, not just when we need something from them, like fitting into a bikini.

Food - Notice the types of food that your body tolerates better than others. Be observant and care for it by avoiding foods that cause stomach pain and bloating, and instead lean towards foods that feel good even after you consume them. 

Massage - Once in a while, it is beneficial to get a massage and a facial. Our bodies carry so much for us, including those difficult emotions, and they store them until they are released. It is always a good idea to give our bodies the gift of relaxation through massage therapy, and our faces, too, through facials, which help cleanse our skin and renew it from within.

Water - This element is a healing wonder that calms the body. Our bodies need water to hydrate and also benefit from its calming, soothing properties. So I recommend your water intake to be high during the day and also, once in a while, go be by water, be it a lake or river, and even better if you have access to be in water, whether a pool or the ocean. Of course, the ocean is the best body of water to soothe your body with its natural salts.

Outdoor Meditation - So much of our time in modernity is spent doing things and moving about that it can feel strange to do nothing, including meditating. This practice teaches the body to be still, and it can also be beneficial when we are going through something that tenses up our bodies; as mentioned earlier, they carry that energetic weight. So by meditating, we are teaching our bodies that it is okay to be still, to let go of tension, and to feel good in the present moment without any expectations about what will come next. If you have access to a backyard or balcony, or can open a window and listen to nature sounds while meditating, this can be such a connective feeling to Gaia.

Getting in touch with your body is such a gift. It connects you to your vessel, honors it, acknowledges that you feel it, and this practice allows you to be more in tune when you are tired, hungry, sad, happy, or need to dance. All ranges of emotions are part of our daily lives that make us feel alive, and our bodies help us through at any point in time. Because summertime is high-energy, it is beneficial to have some soothing practices to help us take care of ourselves through days that are high-heat and humid, which can get uncomfortable at times.