What I Do When the Air is Heavy

Now that I’ve lived in Montana long enough, I’ve come to understand that for many of us, it isn’t really summer anymore—it’s fire season. Living near the Bitterroot Mountain Range, one of the largest intact mountain ecosystems in the lower 48 states, wildfire smoke has become part of the rhythm of late summer. It’s the tradeoff for living in a place of incredible beauty!

But I suppose this isn’t just Montana’s reality anymore. With fires burning across so many regions, more and more of us are feeling the heaviness of fire season. The air changes. Our breathing changes. Even healthy lungs can begin to feel the effects. While we can’t change the air outside, we can care for the body that’s working so hard to meet it.

This week, I shared one of my favorite restorative poses HERE for gently opening the chest and supporting easier breathing during smoky days. Until these skies clear, I hope you find small moments to care for yourself with gentleness. Sometimes that’s exactly what the body—and the breath—have been asking for all along.

In breath,

Ranya