Top 10 Ways to Stay Cool

1. Get Misty

To remind yourself of the ocean's calming spray, whip up a batch of this cooling potion, concocted by aromatherapist Judith Fitzsimmons, author of Aromatherapy Through the Seasons: Restorative Recipes and Sensory Suggestions (Conari, 2001). You'll need pure essential oils (which you can find at a health food store); a 4-ounce spray bottle (probably on the shelf below the oils); and water. (If you're pregnant or diabetic, or have a history of seizures, Fitzsimmons advises checking with a doctor before trying this.) Pour water into the bottle until it's about half full. Add the following oils: eleven drops of orange, eight drops of bergamot, five drops of rosemary, and two drops of lavender. Then, fill the rest of the bottle with more water. Keep the mixture in a cool, dry place and shake it before using. Spritz it on your body anytime throughout the day except before bed; it's an energizing blend. It should also give you a gentle mood lift - "Try it instead of a cup of coffee," Fitzsimmons says - with a dash of mental focus, emotional clarity, and cheerfulness.
undefined

2. Rock Out

Hot stone massages feel great in the winter, so why not try a cold stone treatment when the weather heats up? To save money by doing it yourself, go to the nearest outdoor space and select some smooth rocks that are palm size and smaller, suggests Valerie Simonsen, a naturopathic physician in Maui, Hawaii. Once you've got your rocks, rinse them and lay them in your freezer on top of a bandana or piece of fabric. After about an hour, they'll be cold enough to rest on your wrists, neck and other pulse points for maximum coolage. The stone may also - if you believe in this sort of thing - help ground you. At the very least, you'll feel like a human being for an hour or so instead of human black top.

3. Eat for the Season

In Ayurveda, India's science of life and medicine, beating the heat is all about balancing the dominant element of summer - pitta, or fire. "Like increases like, so we have to have a diet and lifestyle that is opposite to the qualities of pitta," says Krupali Desai, a New York-based Ayurvedic doctor. For example, in blazing summer, she recommends avoiding spicy, heavy foods and eating watery fruits and vegetables (melons, grapes, plums, apples, cucumber). Dairy, known for its cooling properties, is also recommended to take the sting off the heat. In India, says Desai, people often end their warm days by drinking a small glass of buttermilk with a dash of salt and cumin powder.
undefined

4. Breathe Like a Yogi

When yoga practitioners want to lower their temperatures, they stick out their tongues. This is so they can do sheetali pranayama, which translates from Sanskrit as "cooling breath." This exercise brings colder air into the body, but it also offers other benefits: "When we're paying attention to the breath, we're paying attention to the present moment," says Devarshi Steven Hartman, director of professional training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts. "Often we're hot because we're in a hurry," he adds. "So coming into the present is a good way to cool down." To practice sheetali, stick out your tongue halfway and curl it into a tube. Now, if no one's looking at you funny, inhale evenly through it for about five seconds. Then, hold your breath while gently drawing your chin toward your chest. Hold for five seconds. Exhale through your nose. Do four to five rounds, repeating as needed throughout the day.