“The Coldest Winter Is a San Francisco Summer”: How to Care for Your Body in August and September

By Rina, L.Ac.

Summer in San Francisco has a beauty all its own.

Morning fog drifts over the hills, cool ocean air moves in from the Pacific, and sunlight can suddenly break through the clouds. Even in August and September, mornings and evenings often feel chilly, and temperatures can vary quite a bit from one neighborhood to another.

A well-known saying jokes that “the coldest winter is a San Francisco summer.” It may be a little exaggerated, but anyone who lives here understands the feeling.

For some people, this cool, windy weather can also make certain symptoms more noticeable. Neck and shoulder tension, low back stiffness, old aches and pains, fatigue, and digestive discomfort may become more common, especially when combined with long hours of sitting, stress, poor sleep, or less physical activity.

A Few Simple Ways to Support Your Body

In San Francisco, dressing in layers is often the most practical choice. On cooler or windier mornings and evenings, keeping the neck, shoulders, and lower back comfortably warm may help reduce unnecessary muscle tension.

It is also important to keep moving. Walking, gentle stretching, yoga, tai chi, or simply getting up and moving more often during the workday can help prevent stiffness.

On cooler days, people who tend to feel cold, tired, or bloated may also feel better with fewer iced drinks and less raw or chilled food. Warm, simple, easy-to-digest meals may be a better fit. The goal is not to follow strict food rules, but to notice what helps your body feel comfortable and energized.

When Integrative Care May Help

If the discomfort is mild and occasional, heat, rest, and gentle movement may be enough.

But when neck or back pain, stiffness, old injuries, fatigue, or sleep problems keep returning and begin to affect work, exercise, or daily life, it may be worth getting additional support.

Acupuncture can be part of a pain-management and relaxation plan, helping reduce muscle tension while also supporting stress and sleep management. Massage and bodywork can help relax tight muscles, improve mobility, and make daily movement feel easier.

Integrative medicine looks beyond the painful area itself. It also considers how stress, sleep, activity, and daily habits may be affecting the way you feel.

San Francisco’s August and September may be cool, foggy, and unpredictable, but they are also a good time to pay closer attention to your body. Noticing small changes early and making simple adjustments can help you feel better now and prepare for the transition into fall.