The gorgeous warm sun is giving way to the spectacular colours of autumn. The drying winds are shaking leaves from trees and blooms from my flower beds. Light is lessening each day and the breezes are cooler. In the hectic pace of our modern world, we have lost our reverence for these natural progressions, but their presence affects our mood and our health.
In times of change, even seasonal change, we can experience a sense of imbalance. We might be a little anxious, more moody, more prone to conflict. Our skin or hair might feel dry and our joints crack more. These are all symptoms of a "vata" provocation, very common as the seasons change, or in any time of change in your life.
Use your yoga practice to help ground, warm and lubricate. Slow down your asana practice and hold postures a few breaths longer. Our class where we use light weights on the ankles in the hands together with yoga postures is an example of this technique. This builds heat in the body, stabilizes the joints and gives you a chance to mentally connect with the solidity of the earth. Cautiously build flexibility from your ankles to your neck, joint by joint, with gentle warm ups. Nurture your spirit with some cuddly restorative poses like supported savasana.
Take this time to review your place, here and now. Maybe today is a good day to start a journal, writing to yourself of your daily joys and finding gratitude for whereever we find ourselves each day.
And try to connect with nature. A hike is a surefire prescription for bliss. Short Hills Provincial Park, where we were last weekend as a family, provides a variety of scenic adventures complete with hills, climbing trees and creeks for tossing stones.
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