Adjust Your Summer Exercise Routine to Beat the Heat

Jul 16

Landscape view of a woman running with the sun shining behind her. She's wearing short and the photo cuts off at her shoulders so only her body is visible.

Every summer I see the same thing…every year…every summer.

I see patients who tell me that they’re feeling hot, fatigued and sore. I see patients who tell me that they’ve been experiencing increased “heartburn” and have rashes or acne breakouts. I see patients who tell me they’ve been feeling more irritable and short-tempered.

And the first thing I ask them is if they’ve been running races or doing hot yoga. And almost every single patient answers “yes” and then asks me why I’m asking them about their exercise routine rather than about their diet or their sleep.

Exercise increases heat.

The reason is simple. It’s based on the Ayurvedic principle that “like increases like and opposites reduce”, what I call The Counter-Balance Effect ™. In summer, the increased heat is further increased by vigorous exercise which is also extremely heating. This leads to an imbalance which shows up as symptoms of fatigue, inflammation and injury throughout the body and mind.

Change your exercise routine in the summer.

Ayurveda tells us that we all have different requirements for exercise. It also tells us that the type of exercise we do and even the time of day we exercise should change with the seasons. In the summer, it is essential to monitor the amount of heat being produced by exercise in both your mind and your body.

Temper your competitive spirit.

Competition increases heat in the mind and so competitive sports must be balanced with sports for relaxation and enjoyment. For example, if you enjoy running races in the summer, make sure to also participate in slower-paced activities such as golf or yoga. A slower-paced yoga class (not a hot yoga class) a few times a week or a round of golf early in the morning on a weekend can help to counter-balance training for races.

Keep it cool.

Rising temperatures increase heat in the body and so it matters what time of day you exercise. Avoid exercising when the sun is high in the sky. The best time to exercise in the summer is early morning before the sun heats up. The second best time is later in the evening as the sun is beginning to set. If you absolutely must exercise during the heat of the day, try to do it indoors.

As you can see, by making a few adjustments to your exercise routine in the summer, you can enjoy outdoor sports without injuries or symptoms of increased heat.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you in the comments below if you have any other tips for summer exercise.

Be well,