Summer is Ending - Let's Ease Into The Autumn Squeeze
Wouldn't it be nice if you could take back your power & your health easily & effectively, just by watching what you eat & getting into a regular yoga practice? Denby Sheather of Breathing Space Yoga advises on how.
Special Offer. Quote 'Our Manly' when you call Breathing Space Yoga Northern Beaches on 0413 747 644 and get your first class FREE.
Let's be honest. Most of us hate it when Summer ends.
As the days get cooler & the breeze shifts from balmy to blistery, our first reaction can often be one of denial... "If I just keep wearing my thongs then the beach gods will see & grant us another sun shiney day!" We resent having to say goodbye to the warm sand & salty sunsets we have enjoyed over the festive season because it means letting go of all the celebration, excitement & passion that IS Summer.
Everything in life however, is cyclic. Change is the only constant; what goes up must come down; all good things must come to an end. Whether we acknowledge these truths or not, by continuing to resist the natural flow of life, we remain enslaved to old habits & thought patterns that hinder our natural instinct to grow & evolve. Instead we find ourselves stuck, stagnant & in different degrees of separation. Unnatural. Uncomfortable. Un as opposed to Om. And that in the long run is not only unhealthy for our brains, bodies & behaviors, but it also doesn't encourage an aware & compassionate community where people are prepared to embrace change & support one another towards healthy lifestyle choices. If we can learn to align with the seasons then we have a better chance of creating lasting health for ourselves which will not only make us nicer to be around but will also create awareness of the beauty & delicacy of Nature & how everything that we do (or don't do) has impact & consequence. From the wise perspective of the ancient system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, not only is Nature in a constant flow of interchanging energies, but so are we. Our bodies, minds & spiritual selves are governed by particular meridians that influence the health & function of each organ, emotion, even each thought. At particular times of the day & night each of these energies move between a restful & more active state, which is where our natural body clock comes in. Our natural body clock, or rather, the way we 'tick', in synchronicity with the rhythm of the earth, ebbs & flows without our conscious control. It's when we 'unplug' ourselves from that support that we experience disharmony & disease on different levels of our being.
Have you ever had an ephiphany? Or a cathartic moment where suddenly everything in your life became clearer?
Maybe it was whilst going through those old albums stashed at the bottom of the garage cupboard that you finally got to cleaning, or maybe it was during a lively yoga class where your Downward Dog suddenly morphed into Adho Mukha Svanasana for the first time, allowing you to stretch excitedly beyond your previous capabilities. Maybe you were just plain drunk & fell over on the curb seconds before a bus whizzed by & nearly escorted you into the afterlife... it doesn't really matter where, but most of us have experienced those glimpses at some stage in our lives. It's what we do with them that counts.
The season & energy of Autumn governs these moments because it calls us to look at our 'stuff', to sift through the good, the bad & the ugly. If we can be brave enough to squeeze 'n 'release what no longer serves us, we can create space & clarity & move forward in our lives with the real sense of peace that closure brings. This is a challenge for many because as a species, we like to hold on to our stuff, re-hash it amongst friends & family & paste it on Facebook to get everyone else's opinions about it.
This is tiring though yes? Not to mention mentally draining, emotionally depressing & most likely won't win you any prizes for 'most popular & inspiring'. We can lose our enthusiasm, trust, even our positive attitude, when we lose connection to our ability to draw in the good stuff & push out the old stuff & it all starts with the quality of our lungs & bowel believe it or not. If your intestines can't absorb, process, digest & eliminate, you can't function properly on any level. You become stagnant from the inside out, stubborn, stuck & congested & most likely boring to others because you appear to have missed the fun bus. You'll feel cranky, at yourself & others, but often not know exactly why & you'll pass judgment on everything in life because of the sense of futility in your own. Not an empowering space to be in. Think about it. If you can't breathe deeply to draw the oxygen into your lungs needed to activate your brain, then your mind can't function effectively, you can't make clear decisions, you make inappropriate choices that don't support or energize you, you won't eat well enough to fuel your body & brain & you find you won't even be able to get up out of bed without whingeing because you can't even muster up the energy to take in a long deep breath!
* Recent scientific research has actually made the connection between Depression & Colon health, citing that healthy brain function is supported by strong digestive & intestinal function because it increases our ability to effectively absorb nutrients & eliminate toxicity. When the chemical balance in the brain is altered because of bad quality blood, the rest of the body deteriorates, leading to heart problems, weakened bones & poor immunity, all of which are necessary for a healthy, happy, natural state of mind. When you think about all the toxins & additives we ingest from our foods, the pollutants found in our water & the deteriorating conditions of our local & global environments, even the chemicals infused into the plastic toys our children play with, it's no wonder we are experiencing increases in generational disease & imbalance.
Don't get scared though, get cleansing! Wouldn't it be nice if you could take back your power & your health easily & effectively, just by watching what you eat & getting into a regular yoga practice?
Have a think about what you can squeeze out this Autumn, what you can let go of, in this moment, that could create more freedom or space in your head, your heart or your home. Say goodbye to Summer graciously, lighten your load, invite less into your belly so you feel hunger appropriately rather than just eating out of habit. Allow yourself to sit in the stillness this brings & prepare for the coming gifts of the cooler seasons clarity, lightness & a sense of introspection, not to mention less colds & flu because your gut is happily humming along!
Consider adding some of these foods to support your Lungs & Intestines as well as help ground & calm your mind:
Pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, winter squash, spinach, parsley, kale, turnip, onion, garlic, ginger, daikon, radish, pickles, adzuki beans, millet, barley, brown rice, fennel, kuzu (Japanese arrowroot – clears and tones lungs/colon), watercress, seaweeds (excellent to regenerate mucous membranes) ie kombu/arame/wakame.
Flaxseed oil (use in smoothies or add to foods), fenugreek spice.
Stewed apples and pears (peeled) with brown rice congee/porridge.
Marshmallow tea, raspberry leaf tea, green tea.
Cereal grasses/spirulina/micro algae.
Majority of diet should be SIMPLE - grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, sprouts.
Remember not to starve yourself or make radical changes to your current diet, especially if you have diabetes, blood pressure or any other chronic health issues. It's best to slowly introduce nurturing foods so your blood & immune strength build gradually & always run things by your GP or Natropath to make sure you are supported as best as possible.
If you're keen to take your Autumnal experience to a deeper level, we hold seasonal Detox programs and workshops at Breathing Space Yoga Northern Beaches in Hatha, Iyengar and Ki FUSION Yoga that will educate, inspire & support you through the changes you are wanting to make.
Our Detoxes are suitable & safe for all ages & levels of experience, particularly those wanting to address long standing weight & metabolism concerns and for those with digestive and breathing imbalances ie irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, hay fever.
Denby holds regular seasonal Ki FUSION Yoga & food workshops where you will learn about simple seasonal remedies & sample tasty treats after an hour and a half of purifying Ki FUSION Yoga. Please see www.breathingspaceyoga.com.au or call 0413 747 644.
Happy squeezing!
Namaste.
Special Offer. Quote 'Our Manly' when you call Breathing Space Yoga Northern Beaches on 0413 747 644 and get your first class FREE.
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