Practicing quietly, without increasing heat in the body can be done. We can use supports, and breath patterns to help. Even if you have AC and/or fans it can still feel too hot to practice our yoga postures. But, it’s a great time to investigate the 3 Patanjali Yoga Sutras that directly discuss asana. The translations below are from BKS Iyengar.
PYS 2.46 Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit
(Ok, so perfect may not be an option, but striving in that direction can be. It’s hard to be firm when you’re wilting, super difficult to have steady intelligence in the middle of the pandemic, and national reckoning of centuries of inequities, and well…. Benevolence of spirit we might just find when practicing humbly and with our breath patterns in mind.)
PYS 2.47 Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perfom it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.
(So, the practice tip here is to learn how to dial down the effort while maintaining the firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and not get too dull while adjusting towards a benevolent spirit.)
PYS 2.48 From then on, the sādhaka is undisturbed by dualities.
(Well, wouldn’t that be great! Sādhaka by the way means the practitioner of yoga. And trying to sort out how not to be disturbed by all the conflicts in life is no small task)
When practicing the sequence below monitor how this mode of practice can cool your body, calm your thoughts, and as a result build the courage to again face the “dualities” in life. Do not overly exert in this practice. Explore how little you need to work to get the maximum done. In each pose measure if you are becoming cooler and calmer, or if you are heating yourself.
There is really nothing new or advanced in the sequence. So try to polish your skill regulating your efforts towards effortlessness, and doing these poses you already know and understand. Read all the way through the instructional middle column before you begin.