Yoga Tools for Seasonal Change

I'm so happy to say that the Tuesday blog is back! I know I've been posting with some irregularity, and I realized I much prefer regularity and consistency than sporadic communication and haphazard scheduling. Which actually brings me to the theme of this blog, which is yoga tools for navigating change. (You’re going to want to save this one–it’s packed with helpful info.)

The Northern Hemisphere is now in a transition to Fall, and with that comes a change of season in Ayurveda (the sister science of yoga which means "the science of life.") as well. We move into vata season, which has the qualities of cold, dry, windy, and change. This means dry skin, cold wind, and fluctuations in many aspects of life.

The fluctuations and agitations of vata can bring with it changes in digestion, sleep disruptions, and increased anxiety. But thankfully, there are things you can do to mediate these issues! For each of these areas, I'm going to offer you a yoga tool and a lifestyle suggestion to help pacify any disruptions and foster balance and harmony through your system. (These are general tools of Yoga Therapy. If you are curious about your specific needs, I encourage you to schedule a free 20-minute Discovery Call and see if a customized Yoga Therapy practice is appropriate for you right now.)

The biggest action you can take in reducing fluctuations in digestion, sleep, and anxiety, is establishing regular routines. (Hence my return to Tuesday blog posts!) That will be mentioned in each category: 

DIGESTION

Get regular in your routine by eating at the same time everyday. You can also foster elimination at the same time everyday with the Get A Morning Glow routine, available on my Yoga Therapy page at the bottom. 

Eat warm, cooked foods, rather than cold salads and smoothies. If you love your salads, consider wilted kale, warmed nuts, or cooked vegetables. If you’re a root veggie kinda person, this is your season to shine! Replace your smoothie with warm soup, and you’ll give yourself some grounded goodness to keep the vata at bay. 

Do yoga postures with twists and breathe into your belly. Seated or lying down twists are great for stimulating sluggish digestion. Belly breathing helps calm your nervous system and massage the lower organs for happier tummies. 

SLEEP

Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. If you know you need an earlier bedtime, the best way to change your clock is to move your wake time. If you’re getting up earlier, you’ll be tired at an earlier bedtime. 

Add a warm oil foot massage to your evening routine. I was recently reminded of the efficacy of this practice when I taught the yoga therapy students at My Vinyasa Practice, and several did it. They had better sleep than they’ve had in ages! You can watch a great video of how to do it HERE. 

Do yoga poses with calming forward folds, or try Restorative or Yoga Nidra. My online course, AM/PM: 20 Minute Practices to Start and End Your Day was made specifically for this. The PM classes have my favorite postures for calming down for a restful night. Try the one I taught at Free Day of Yoga HERE. 

ANXIETY

Getting regular in your life and work routines will help with this as well. We need enough structure to feel stable, and enough freedom to feel enjoyment. How much you need of each will be up to you. But definitely get some movement everyday. Anxiety is energy without direction, so move your body and give it direction! It can take as little as a 15 minute walk, 10 minutes of dancing it out, or a 20 minute yoga practice. This is why I created Stop and Give Me 20!, which you can try out on YouTube HERE. (If a life transition is at the root of your anxiety, you might benefit from Whole Life Alignment.)

Yoga postures that focus on grounding, or on chakra one, will help. These include strong standing poses, balance postures, and yogi squat. Practicing mindful breathing will ease you out of past ruminations or future worries. Take a pause throughout the day to notice, deepen, and appreciate your breath as you feel it in your body. It’s a fast and free way to get to the now. 

Spend time in nature. If you want a yoga prescription to go outdoors, walk barefoot, have a digital detox and a forest bath, then this is it! Let your eyes rest on the natural world and allow yourself to surrender to the slow energy of the earth. (Just be sure and keep warm!) This is why I chose the beautiful Five Oak Ranch as the location of our next Yoga Community Gathering. Spending time in nature lowers cortisol, fosters calmness, and gives us a larger sense of ourselves in the world. 

Now, if you aren’t doing any of these things, don’t try to add them all at once! Choose ONE that sounds doable for you on a regular basis. Once that is established, then come back to this email and add one more. These yoga prescriptions are invitations to something that will hopefully feel good and keep you coming back for more. No spoonful of sugar needed! 

May you navigate this season of change, both in nature and in your life, with grace, ease, and a little help from the therapeutic application of yoga.

Much love