7 Yoga Tools for Summer You’ll Want in Your Routine
Summer often brings a shift in rhythm, longer days, a faster pace, more activity, and sometimes, a little less structure. It’s easy to feel overstimulated, scattered, or just plain off your usual routine.
That’s where a well-stocked yoga tool kit comes in.
We put together a list of 7 yoga tools you can use anytime, anywhere — no mat, studio, or 60-minute class required. These are accessible, everyday practices that support calm, focus, and connection — even when your schedule feels like it’s in flux.
1. Palming
What it is: A quick technique to rest your eyes and calm your nervous system.
How to do it: Rub your hands together to create heat. Gently cup your palms over your closed eyes without pressing. Take 3–5 slow breaths in the dark.
Why it works: Palming soothes screen-strained eyes and invites stillness in a matter of seconds. It’s a go-to if you’re working long hours, scrolling too much, or just need a moment of quiet.
2. Seated Spinal Twist
What it is: A gentle twist that re-centers your spine and digestion.
How to do it: From a chair, sit tall. On an exhale, twist gently to one side, holding the chair back or armrest. Inhale to lengthen your spine; exhale to deepen the twist slightly. Hold for 3–5 breaths, then switch sides.
Why it works: This twist refreshes your spine and organs — and it’s easy to sneak in between meetings or after long periods of sitting.
3. Cooling Breath (Sitali or Sitkari Pranayama)
What it is: A traditional yogic breathwork practice used to cool the body and calm the mind.
How to do it:
- Sitali: Curl your tongue into a taco shape and inhale through it (or, if you can’t curl your tongue, you can try Sitkari: Gently press your lower and upper teeth together and part your lips so your teeth are exposed to the air. Inhale through your teeth).
- Focus your attention on the cooling sensation of the breath as the abdomen and lower ribs expand
- Close the mouth and exhale through your nose.
- Repeat for 8–10 rounds.
Why it works: Cooling breath helps reduce internal heat — physically and energetically. It’s a great practice on hot days, after movement, or anytime you're feeling irritated, overheated, or overwhelmed.
4. 3-Breath Pause
What it is: A mindfulness reset that takes less than 30 seconds.
How to do it: Pause whatever you’re doing. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take three full, conscious breaths. That’s it.
Why it works: This tool is deceptively simple. It breaks autopilot, invites presence, and offers just enough space to shift out of reaction mode.
5. Intentional Walks
What it is: Moving your body with a phrase, mantra, or affirmation in mind.
How to do it: As you walk, link each step to a repeated phrase. A few to try:
– “I’m here now.”
– “Inhale calm, exhale tension.”
– “Step by step.”
Why it works: Movement clears mental clutter. Layer in a phrase, and it becomes a moving meditation that grounds you, especially on busy or anxious days.
6. Desk Shoulder Rolls
What it is: A one-minute movement break for your neck, shoulders, and upper back.
How to do it: Sit or stand tall. Inhale as you roll your shoulders up to your ears. Exhale as you roll them down and back. Repeat 5–10 times.
Why it works: Most of us hunch more than we realize. This mini-reset helps you re-open your chest, reduce tension, and invite ease into your posture.
7. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)
What it is: A restorative inversion that cools the body, quiets the mind, and supports circulation.
How to do it:
Lie on your back and extend your legs up a wall, forming an L shape. Scoot your hips as close to the wall as is comfortable. Rest your arms by your sides or place your hands on your belly. Close your eyes and stay for 5–10 minutes.
Why it works: This gentle pose helps reverse blood flow from the legs, reduce swelling, and slow your heart rate. It's deeply cooling — physically and mentally — making it an ideal summer reset or end-of-day ritual.
Build Your Own Yoga Tool Kit
These tools are simple, flexible, and easy to use on your own terms. That’s the idea behind everything we do at The Yoga Tool Kit — to make yoga practical, portable, and personalized.
🧰 Want more tools like these?
Check out our Desk Yoga Cards — a curated deck of over 100 yoga-inspired tools, from stretches and meditations to mantras and breathwork. Keep them at your desk, on your travels, or wherever you need a moment of calm.
Let us know what’s in your tool kit this season.
Tag us on Instagram @theyogatoolkit or reply to our latest email — we love hearing what’s working for you.