This past week I heard whispers of Fall’s arrival and it made my heart smile. While my 3 year old played on the playground, I felt a cooler crisp breeze fragrant with an earthy aroma. And then I knew, Fall is coming.
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
As the light changes and the days get shorter, we witness Mother Nature’s energy transition. When the seasons change and we move from the expansive energy of summer to the contracted energy of fall, our inner and outer lives mirror this shift from vacations and long summer days to school schedules, long nights, and holidays. This seasonal transition can be graceful if you’re attentive and aware of yourself and your surroundings.
Set A Goal And Focus On Daily Activities
[pullquote]Think about how you can prepare to reach your goal. What can you do on the inside to support the seasonal shift that’s happening outside?[/pullquote]
Keep a goal and decide on the changes you’d like to see as an outcome of the change of season. This will keep your focus on going forward while still maintaining a connection with the present. It will allow you to be mindful of your daily activities, which ultimately serve your goal. Take a few minutes to think about what you might like to witness and experience this season and how your current actions will support that goal. What is this fall bringing into focus for you?
Do Yoga To Balance Your Body And Mind
Support or start off your yoga practice by planning out a weekly class that will ease your transition through the anticipated changes this season. A balanced yoga practice can help your body transition through the seasons with grace.
Also, incorporate the following key elements into your practice to smoothen the transition process: increase the heat, energize, detox, and restore.
Refine your yoga practice to suit the season by making it calming, warming, strengthening, consistent, and grounding. Explore these particular postures to get you started on your discovery of asana alignment, natural harmony, and physical equanimity this fall:
1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
This is a grounding asana that offers space for quiet reflection while soothing the nerves, calming the mind, and reducing stress. Once in this space, reflect upon your sankalpa (resolve for the fall season).
2. Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana)
In this seated posture, release the pelvis down toward the earth. This is an ideal pose to move prana, the vital life energy, downward and ground it. It boosts the immune system and prepares your body for the cold season.
3. Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana)
Invite warmth into your routine with this standing pose. Autumn is known for being windy and dry, which makes the pyramid pose an excellent yoga addition to your fall practice. The pyramid strengthens the legs, helping you root into the season while counteracting dryness by lubricating the joints. In the advanced stage of this pose, you lower your head over the front leg, which cools and soothes the nerves.
4. Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
In this fold, ground down by rooting your feet into the physical pose as well as the season. Experience your mental and physical exhaustion melt away and the rejuvenation of brain cells and spinal nerves. You can practice this pose with the support of blocks or a chair.
5. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
In this standing pose, practice the art of balance. Witness how the season is changing in your outer world, such as the change of color in leaves and how they fall to the ground. Reflect upon the changes in your inner world, beginning with the physical self. Explore how this asana teaches you to refine and rebalance with each breath.
6. Cobra Pose (Raja Bhujangasana)
In this backward bend, cultivate your earthiness, which powers through the lower body and brings the pose to life. As you push your body back to the earth, rest your forehead on the ground and reflect upon the warming, energizing sensations in the physical body.
7. Seated Twist (Marichyasana)
Gain renewed energy for the season with this seated twist. This asana, named after a sage, gives your liver, spleen, and intestines a seasonal tune-up by improving their functions. It also helps you detox and restore.
8. Head-To-Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana)
Experience quiet introspection in this forward fold, allowing the stress to melt away while alleviating the stiffness in joints, shoulders, and legs.
9. Legs Up The Wall (Viparita Karani)
Consider this restorative asana as a tonic for the season as it alleviates exhaustion and reduces depression and any stress-related headaches.
10. Corpse Pose (Svasana)
This is a restorative and deeply restful yoga pose. Keep the breath smooth and steady, allowing energy to flow into the body and wash away the stress of everyday life. Give your inner body and soul the freedom to fall into balance with deep relaxation. Experience an expanded, deeper state of rest in the corpse pose by increasing the duration to 10 minutes or more.
Go Back To Nature
Indulge and take your yoga practice outdoor, allowing Mother Nature to transport you to the present moment – feel the earth, smell the air, and listen to the myriad sounds, all of which will guide you back to the peace within. Enjoy falling into a balance with attention, awareness, and renewal this autumn!
