While winter yoga naturally invites us to focus on dynamic and strengthening practices, summer is just too hot for these. The warmer weather allows muscles to release more easily and is perfect for soothing movements and cooling breath techniques. The yoga I teach in my group sessions changes from season to season. In summer I always recommend the legs-up-the-wall-pose as a regular home practice. If you suffer from heavy legs during warm weather, this simple inversion could be just right to relieve leg fatigue and heaviness. This supported inversion can also be helpful when you have lower back pain, varicose veins, and oedema in legs, ankles and feet. In addition, it soothes the nervous system. If you feel stressed or anxious, this an excellent position to relax in, regardless whether your legs need it or not. For your yoga in summer, stay cool and relaxed with these yoga poses!

Feeling heaviness in the legs can be a symptom of leg swelling or oedema, the result of fluid retention in the veins and lymph vessels of feet, ankles and legs. If the leg swelling is very sudden and accompanied by other symptoms, please seek medical help. If not, this pose can provide blissful relief, helping the circulatory and lymphatic systems. As mentioned before, it relaxes the nervous system so it is a super, multi-tasking pose!

Legs up the wall pose for heavy legs in summer

– If your hamstrings are quite flexible, you can lie very close to the wall with your legs at a 90-degree angle to your body. Place yourself sideways next to the wall, almost “sitting” on the wall with one sitting bone, and swing both legs up so you lie on your back.
– If your hamstrings are not so flexible you can start by lying further away from the wall. Find the distance where the legs feel stretched but not painful.
– Relax your arms to the side; a little distance away from the body is more releasing for the shoulders.
– keep your attention on your breath and on the sense of being grounded and relaxed along the whole back , shoulders and neck. If your neck feels tight, place a low pillow under your head.
– Hold for about 10 minutes if comfortable.
– To come out of the position, bend your legs and roll over to the side. Push yourself up with one arm, slowly.

variation 1: legs straight up the wall

The two other variations below can be used when your legs start to tingle or tire, but also simply as variations to stretch different parts of your legs.

Variation 2: straight legs out to the side

Variation 3: soles of the feet together

I hope these poses can help you feel relaxed, and give your legs much needed relief after a hot day. To join my group classes for healthy ageing, or discuss private yoga therapy, don’t hesitate to set up a free consultation call here. https://beneyoga.co.uk/book-a-free-consultation-call/.

Namaste