We are in a transition, within the transition. What I mean by that is we are part way through Fall and yet not quite at winter.

We have moved away from the ultimate extroverted, Yang, fire element of summer (which was a big transition to make) to the more introverted, Yin-like time of autumn.

I have a Fall-themed Yin Yoga practice for you at the bottom of this post.

Fall in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoism is a time for letting go. It’s also linked to the emotion of grief.

For those who love summer, it’s typically grieving the loss of Summer.

 

 I actually LOVE fall it’s my second favourite season (spring being #1).

But as excited as I am about sweaters, scarves, boots and misty rainy beach walks, I also grieve the loss of daylight. As a Canadian, I know it won’t be long before it’s getting dark at 4:00 pm 😳.

So, adjusting our lifestyle this time of year is key for maintaining health and harmony in both our bodies and our emotional well-being.

Here are a few things to keep in mind and set intentions around for the remainder of Fall.

This time of year is a great time for rest and nest!

I’ve been cozying up my home with more candles, salt lamps and even a new fake fireplace 

Fall is the time to let go of unneeded energies from your life. This could be relationships or friendships or habits that are no longer serving you. This is a time to let them go.

It’s also a good time to purge your home of unused clothing or other physical clutter. I’m just in the process of doing my fall purge right now. Closets and storage spaces have been cleared and the rehoming and donating has begun. Next up is books (which is the most difficult for me). 🫣

Fall is the time of the Metal element in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The organs associated with the Fall are the Lungs and Large intestine. Metal stands for being strong, clear about things, and knowing when it’s time to let things go. These gifts help keep our bodies and minds in harmony, especially as the seasons change.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine Fall weather is mostly very dry. Dryness can damage both the lungs and the large intestines.

Increasing warm fluid intake is a good idea this time of year as well as eating seasonal foods such as pears, squash and pumpkin. Cooked kale and broccoli are vegetables that can also help nourish the fluids of the body. Walnuts and hempseeds nourish the fluids of both the large intestines and the lungs. 

It’s time to favour cooked food over Raw.

It’s also a time to let yourself sleep and rest more. Dim the lights, and cozy up.

The lungs are responsible for our Defensive Qi (immunity) so taking some extra care this time of year can help prevent us from picking up those seasonal colds that are so common this time of year.

One of the simplest ways to ward off colds is to wear a scarf.  Keeping the neck warm is a great way to protect your body from the cold weather and colds invading our defensive Qi.

A recipe for harmony this fall:

1) Take extra time to go inward
2) Practice extra self-care
3) Stay hydrated with warm liquids
4) Eat warm nurturing seasonal foods (I love roasting veggies in the oven)
5) Pull out the scarves
6) Letting go of unneeded energies and stuff that no longer serves you

 

A poem for you  about letting go, because fall isn’t just about letting go of the physical  stuff it’s the mental and emotional stuff as well!

 

She Let Go

by Safire Rose

She let go.

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.

There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her.

And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…

 

The above tips can help you to adapt to the seasonal change and improve your health, both emotionally and physically.

And to help you settle into Fall with more ease here is a Fall-themed Yin Yoga Practice For You.

 

 

Happy practicing

nyk

P.S. This Video is a sample of a previous Zoom class videos like this (and a bunch more) are available in my On-Demand Video Library more on that here