This season is a transitional season, moving from the expansive energy of the Fire Element and the Yang seasons of Spring and Summer to the more consolidating and inward feel of the Yin seasons of Autumn and Winter.
Some find this transition difficult, it heralds colder weather, the start of the school routines, less sunlight and darker evenings. Others look forward to the slowing down and moving away the high energy of Summer. As we spend more times indoors it can be a great time to take up a new hobby, finish off a project or even learn a new skill or language.
The organs associated with Late Summer are the Stomach, Spleen and Pancreas, all playing a part in digesting and processing our food. As well as thinking about which foods nourish and support us we need to think about the impact of our thoughts on our wellbeing. We also digest our inner chatter and negative self talk has an effect on us both physically and mentally. It’s worth taking time to notice your thoughts and inner dialogue and ask if they support and nourish you or drain and deplete your energy, which may impact on our immunity.
This is a time to look inwards, a time to build your core, your inner strength, your ability to cope with whatever challenges come your way. Taking time to notice the mechanics of our body from the insides, our heart, lungs, digestion is key to knowing how we tick and helps us to head off illness aches and pains sooner rather than later.
If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it when it screams
The practice of looking inwards is known as “interoception“, how your brain perceives your body, transmitted by receptors on all of your internal organs. Tuning into these signals isn’t as easy as tuning into our 5 senses, but it has a huge impact on how we learn to regulate our emotions and manage our mental wellbeing. There is more and more research into this subject and I’ve added a link to a recent article in the Guardian. Listening to your own body’s messages is the first step and then interpreting that information rather than reacting on automatic pilot. Feeling tired? try a quick nap rather than a coffee. Feeling hungry? Maybe have a glass water before reaching for food. Learning to read and understand your body’s signals is empowering as you take responsibility for your choices.
Late Summer is a great time to build yourself up in preparation for the colder months ahead. Choosing the things that nourish and sustain us, the food we eat, the way we treat our bodies and our mind. Try to build in some daily exercise, gardening, yoga, walking in nature, anything you enjoy will be good for building your general sense of wellbeing and as a result boost your immunity.
Tai Chi / Qi Gong is great for working with your internal energy and boosting your immunity. Look out for outdoor classes and if you live near me in Houston, Renfrewshire why not try our Chi on the Green classes on Tuesday mornings!
If you can’t make it to a class Mimi Kuo-Deemer does a lovely 16 minute Qi Gong practice on You Tube for the Earth Element. Why not try it out for 21 days and see if it helps to nourish you both inside and out.
Stay well and embrace this season of slowing down, grounding and anchoring to the present moment.
Yoga with Liz 