6 Ancient Cooling Practices For When It's Hot AF

Next time you're feeling overwhelmed, too warm, irritable, or uncomfortable and need some quick relief, turn to one (or more!) of these practices and watch as your body starts to respond:

According to Dr. Von, watermelon is a cooling food. "It's true that it's in season, but it also cools heat," she said. If you're sick of plain watermelon, try adding mint, rosemary, and/or olive oil. While you're at it, check out these inventive watermelon recipes.

If you can roll your tongue, give this short pranayama (yogic breathwork) technique a try. Find a comfortable seat; sit with your eyes closed while you find center. Breathe normally for a few grounding breaths. Then curl your tongue and breathe in through the strawlike opening in your tongue. The breeze the breath creates over the tongue has a cooling effect on the entire body. Exhale through the nose. Breathe this way for one or two minutes, stopping if you're uncomfortable, of course.

"Morning hydration has the power to change your cellular hydration for the entire day," said Dr. Von. She does her best to drink down 20 ounces of water first thing in the morning.

Holecek swears by cooling aloe vera as a diet staple as well as a skin-soothing treatment. You can break it right off a well-kept plant, purchase aloe fillets, or use aloe vera juice. "I eat aloe vera cut from the leaf; it is a solid gel and mostly tasteless—I sometimes garnish it with rock salt. It’s available at my Whole Foods," said Holecek.

"No amount of a cooling practice or breath can keep a poor diet in check," said Dr. Von. Yes, that means your mojito and cold brew are counterproductive if you've been feeling the heat. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar are temptations deeply entrenched in summer culture, but they're all inflammatory according to Dr. Von. Try going for mint-infused sparkling water, caffeine-free tea, and fresh fruit to satisfy your summery cravings.

Want to make your bedroom cooler in the summer? We've got just the thing.