The morning started the same way most July mornings do around here. The chickens were already waiting when I stepped outside, convinced they hadn't been fed in weeks instead of yesterday, and Auggie trotted ahead of me toward the coop like he had very important farm business to attend to. The grass was still wet with dew, the air hadn't warmed up yet, and for a few minutes everything felt wonderfully quiet, some of my favorite moments of the day.
By the time I finished my chores, I'd already walked through the fields, checked on the garden, and spent enough time outside to realize just how different my body feels in the middle of summer than it does in January.
Not better. Not worse. Just... different.
I think that's something we don't talk about enough. We expect our bodies to move the same way year-round, even though everything around us changes. The temperature changes. The amount of daylight changes. The food we're eating changes. Our routines change. Why wouldn't our bodies? Somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to force the same wellness routine through every season. Instead, I started paying attention to what summer was trying to teach me. And honestly, it's been a much better teacher than I have.
Sometimes Thirst Doesn't Feel Like Thirst
Not long ago, I came inside after feeding the chickens and thought, I need coffee. So I poured myself another cup.
A few sips later, I realized the coffee wasn't helping at all. What I actually needed was a big glass of water.
It sounds obvious now, but I catch myself doing that more often than I'd like to admit. We tend to assume we're just tired when we're really dehydrated, or we think our back feels stiff because we're getting older when maybe we've just spent the last hour pulling weeds or carrying buckets without stopping to drink. Summer has a sneaky way of doing that.
The truth is, our bodies send us plenty of quiet warnings long before we feel parched throat-dry thirst:
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The Midday Fog & Fatigue: When fluid levels drop, your blood volume decreases, reducing the efficient flow of oxygen and nutrients to your brain. That afternoon sluggishness is often just a plea for water, not another cup of caffeine.
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The Stubborn Headache: A dull, persistent ache behind the eyes or temples is one of the most overlooked signs that your body is running low on fluids.
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Sudden Stiffness or Cramps: Without enough water and balanced electrolytes, muscles lose their smooth coordination, leading to unexpected tightness or cramps after outdoor work.
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The Color Check: Darker, concentrated urine or less frequent trips to the bathroom are your kidneys' way of holding onto whatever moisture is left.
We're outside more during the summer months, gardening, walking, paddling, hiking, visiting farmers markets, or chasing kids and grandkids around the yard. None of it necessarily feels like a high-intensity workout, but our bodies are working harder than we realize in the heat.
I've learned to keep water nearby instead of waiting until my body has to ask twice. Fresh fruit shows up in our kitchen more often this time of year, and after especially hot days I'll even make sure I'm replacing a few electrolytes instead of just drinking plain water. None of those habits are complicated; they're simply little ways of paying attention.
Summer Has Changed My Yoga Practice
If you had asked me a few years ago what a good yoga practice looked like, I probably would have talked about how long I practiced or how much I accomplished.
I don't think that way anymore.
Some mornings I'll spend forty-five minutes on my mat. Other mornings it's ten. Sometimes all I need is a few slow stretches after working outside, followed by five quiet minutes listening to the wind move through the trees. If we're heading up to the lake for the weekend, my mat almost always comes along, ready to unroll on a quiet porch or down by the shoreline while the world is still waking up.
Oddly enough, those shorter or more spontaneous practices are often the ones I remember most. Maybe it's because they come from listening instead of planning. There's something freeing about letting go of the idea that every practice has to accomplish something. Yoga has become less about doing more and more about noticing more:
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How am I breathing today?
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Where am I holding tension?
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What would feel good instead of impressive?
Those questions have changed my practice far more than learning another pose ever did.
Heat Has a Way of Fooling Us
One thing I've learned is that warm muscles can be a little deceptive. When it's hot outside, everything feels looser. It's tempting to sink a little deeper into a stretch because your body seems willing to go there.
Sometimes that's perfectly fine. Other times, your muscles are simply warm, not necessarily ready.
I've learned to approach summer practices with curiosity instead of ambition. I've become much more comfortable stopping before the deepest stretch, not because I can't go farther, but because I don't need to. I'd rather finish feeling energized than spend the next two days wondering why my shoulder is talking back to me.
That's another lesson summer keeps teaching me. Slowing down isn't the opposite of progress. Sometimes it is the progress.
A Good Foundation Matters More Than We Think
A few months ago I wrote a blog called Grip, Density, Texture: A No-BS Guide to Yoga Mat Lingo because I wanted to pull back the curtain on some of the language people see when they're shopping for a yoga mat. Words like grip and density sound technical until you actually experience why they matter.
Summer is when I notice those differences the most. A little sweat changes everything. When my hands are damp, I don't want to wonder whether they're going to slide out from underneath me in Downward Dog. I want to think about my breath, not my footing.
The same goes for support. After spending a morning walking the fields, an afternoon in the garden, or a weekend full of exploring, my knees and wrists appreciate a mat with enough cushioning to feel comfortable without feeling squishy or unstable. It's funny because a great yoga mat almost disappears. You're not thinking about it while you practice. You're simply able to move with confidence because it's quietly doing its job beneath you.
Caring for My Mat Is Part of Caring for Yourself
Summer leaves little reminders everywhere.
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Grass clippings.
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Pollen.
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Dust.
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Sweat.
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Occasionally, a few muddy paw prints courtesy of Auggie.
I've never believed mat care needed to be complicated. After most practices I simply wipe my mat down with a damp cloth and let it air dry before rolling it up. If it's been traveling with me for the weekend, or it's had a little more adventure than usual, I'll take it outside, hose it off, and let it dry out of the sun if I can. That's usually all it needs before it's ready to come back inside.
I suppose that's another thing summer has taught me. Simple routines are the ones we actually stick with.
Maybe That's the Real Lesson
When people talk about wellness, they often make it sound like another project to manage. Another list. Another routine. Another thing to perfect. We're constantly told about the newest supplement or the newest habit that's supposed to change everything overnight.
I don't think that's what wellness is anymore. At least it isn't for me.
These days it looks a lot more like drinking water before I think I need it. Stretching after feeding the chickens because my body asks for it. Rolling out my mat in the fields while Auggie keeps me company. Packing that same mat when we're heading up to the lake for the weekend because I know I'll want a few quiet minutes outside.
Taking care of my body in the same steady way I try to take care of everything else that's important to me. Small things, done consistently, done with intention. That's what summer keeps reminding me.
Not perfect wellness. Real wellness. The kind that fits into everyday life instead of asking us to rearrange it.
If there's one thing I hope you take with you this summer, it's this: your body is talking to you all the time. Sometimes it's asking for water, sometimes it's asking you to slow down, and sometimes it's simply asking for a steady place to land.
If you're looking for a yoga mat that's made for real life instead of perfect photos, I'd love for you to explore the Big Raven Yoga collection. Our microfiber suede mats become grippier as moisture builds, are supported by a 5 mm natural rubber base, and are designed to travel wherever your practice takes you, from the fields around home to weekends up at the lake.
Because your yoga practice shouldn't have to fit into someone else's idea of wellness. It should fit beautifully into your own.