Healthy Hollywood: Try It On Tuesday – Cool Down With An Ohm!

Healthy Hollywood is a big fan of summertime. Who doesn’t love a day at the beach or going for a run outdoors in the warm weather? But, summer’s blazing sun can also zap your energy. Popular New York City yoga teacher Sadie Nardini says jump on the mat to bring your spirits back up. “Yoga can help shake off this summer’s sluggishness in just a few minutes. Cooling poses are important to add into your routine – they help you beat the heat by giving your body a rest and allow your system to chill.”

Sadie, who recently launched her own daily yoga show, “Rock Your Yoga,” on Veria Living, the wellness and lifestyle channel, adds, “Stronger moves like inversions and twists detoxify you, wake up your muscles, charge up your metabolism and bring blood flow back to the upper body and head, recharging your batteries from the inside out. I recommend a practice that’s three-quarters workout and one-quarter chill out to still totally transform while maintaining your summer sanity.”

Also, yoga’s breathing practice helps to increase energy. “The deep breathing amps up the cleansing properties of every pose, sweeping away fatigue and toxins, even as the postures themselves strengthen the muscles and release tension, flooding the body with more energy to use for more important things,” adds Sadie.

Sadie shares with Healthy Hollywood three of her favorite poses that’ll help cool you down!

1. Waterfall Warrior:

Both a challenging and a cooling pose. From Down Dog pose, step the left foot forward to the left thumb. Coming into a Warrior One stance – back foot grounds down, toes are at about 45-degrees and front foot faces forward. Exhale, draw the belly in, and roll your torso up over the legs. Interlace hands behind you, bent or straight arms. Inhale, lift the belly and chest. Exhale, fold forward onto or inside the front leg. Press down through feet, and roll back up on an exhale. Repeat the waves 5 to 10 times. Return to Dog Pose and do Waterfall Warrior on the right side.

(proceed to next pose)

2. Twists of Fire:

Step feet together. Bend your knees and hug them toward one another. Draw in the lower belly and roll up to Chair Pose, arms in the air, knees bent. Inhale here. Exhale, bring palms together, and twist right elbow to the left knee. Inhale back to center, exhale, twist left elbow to right knee. Repeat the twists 5 to 10 times on each side. When done, fold forward over legs for a few breaths.

(proceed to last pose)

3. Block Detox:

Cool down and detox now. Come onto your back. Lift your hips and place a yoga block or large book under your hips. Bend your knees over the hips, or straighten legs completely. Remain here, breathing slowly for one minute or more. For extra cooling, rest your heels against the wall.

For more information on Sadie’s show, “Rock Your Yoga,” check out www.veria.com

–Terri MacLeod