Autumn: Transition & Integration for Health & Well-Being
Sol Luna Yoga Studio is excitedly welcoming Autumn, just as we welcome all life transitions, small and large! We find it essential to not only have awareness of these transitions, but to have reverence and honor towards them as well, just as it is essential to honor every part of our individual beings. When we can honor ourselves, not only does this improve our individual well-beings, but it contributes to the health and well-being of the collective… of the community. And at the end of it all, we’re all seeking community and connection.
Autumn comes in late September in the Northern Hemisphere. And with it brings many outward, tangible changes: the change in color of the leaves, the temperatures beginning to fall, plants and crops grow more slowly, daylight dwindles a little more each night, and for some, it brings the beginning of a new school year. The long, spirited days of summer come to a close. And I don’t know about you, but as summer comes to an end, there is a subtle shift that I feel, more subtle changes that occur within that are sometimes difficult to outwardly recognize or pinpoint… but no doubt I still feel them.
With the decrease in light, our bodies begin to slow down: our metabolism begins to slow, our bodies begin to crave warmer, nutrient-dense foods, and our Vitamin D levels may drop. Sleep patterns may also shift as melatonin and cortisol levels shift, causing us to feel more easily fatigued or a desire to sleep longer hours. Exercise and movement may begin to feel more like a chore than a desire, and thus, anxiety and depression levels may increase if we find ourselves more sedentary and unable to move emotions out of the physical body. This all can be an unnerving experience when we just had a season of heat and activity with summer. But the body always knows and senses the change is upon us. It soon becomes a time for stillness and reflection and introspection.
Sometimes it can be a challenge to shift gears in a society that depends on productivity, one that instills doing as more valuable than being. Though society may struggle to recognize and honor that we are living, sentient, beings that ebb and flow just like our Earth, that doesn’t mean we have to forget that. Simple shifts in your own day-to-day that honor your cycles and rhythms can make a beneficial impact to your health and well-being.
So how can you use this information to become more attuned to your body’s rhythms? In ayurveda fall symbolizes the transition from Pitta to Vata. Pitta is ruled by the fire element: heat, drive, ambition, productivity; while Vata is ruled by the air element: light, dry, creation in the form of thoughts and ideas. During this transition there is a simultaneous urge to be both in action and wrap up and slow down. While this can be a challenge for some to make this transition, here are 3 tips to help you to do this with more ease.
Create a Gentle Routine: Moving from productive Pitta, we may still feel that urge to get things done but perhaps with a little less motivation to do so. Airy Vata still needs grounding though, even with a need to slow down. Create a simple way to start your day. Meditation or morning journaling can help ground that Vata energy you’re feeling. If you are not wanting to continue that rigorous exercise schedule, choose a more gentle form of movement, such as yoga, or a walk. Vata also enjoys warm and soothing foods and drinks. During your new morning routine, begin with some warm coffee, tea, or lemon water, that will soothe Vata’s need for warmth so you can jumpstart your day. In addition, if you find yourself experiencing more fatigue, try shifting your sleeping hours in accordance with the rise and set of the sun. If this is difficult to implement, try taking a sunset walk each night and keeping artificial lights to a minimum during the evening hours. This can help balance your melatonin and cortisol levels, which will improve sleep.
Practice Self-Care: Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic practice that involves a self-massage using an oil that suites your body and dosha. Typically done before or after a shower, gently massage the oil into your skin, paying extra attention to any areas that feel more tense. This practice allows you to tune into your physical body while also release any emotions that may be lingering within. We have a meridian system with trigger points all throughout our body. Self-massage is a simple way to release tension in these points and create and overall sense of calm. If you are someone who practices yoga asanas, indulge in a more slow moving practice, such an yin or restorative yoga. These modalities will encourage awareness of your breath and body, movement and release within your meridian system, and is gentle and slow enough to allow for reflection.
Practice Grace: For some of us slowing down is a challenge if we attach our self-worth with our productivity. As living beings, we naturally go through rhythms, just as the earth does. While it may take effort and time to accept it is okay to slow down, it is also imperative to our health and well-being. If you’re someone who struggles with this, perhaps incorporate some time to find stillness – whether in a guided meditation, journaling, or breath work. Allow any judgements or criticisms to come up and simply sit with that awareness for a few moments. Perhaps eventually, those few moments can turn into longer and longer time with stillness. If you are someone who enjoys affirmations, it can be helpful to write down a list of affirmations that you can look back on that remind you to be gentle on yourself when your inner critic is at it’s height.
While these are just a few suggestions, there are many ways to guide your body and mind through this transition. What’s most important is tuning in and recognizing what your body is asking for - what it’s seeking. In a society that demands productivity, always remember that you have your own inner guidance and wisdom that far outweighs any external demand. Listen to this inner voice, and your whole being will thrive.
