Smoothly Transition Into Autumn

for a Smooth Seasonal Transition

6 Ways to smoothly transition in to Autumn and prepare for the Autumn EquinoxHappy (soon to be) Autumn Equinox! In Chinese Medicine Autumn is all about keeping your immune system healthy, slowing down, and LETTING GO of emotional baggage that has been weighing us down – in particular, grief at sadness, at this time of year.

Here, I offer 6 ways to smoothly transition into Autumn and prepare your body for the Autumn Equinox.

1. Nutrition

In a healthy body, Yin and Yang are perfectly balanced. As we come in to the more Yin time of year (slower and cooler), we want to reduce the heat from the summer months and instead reflect our seasonal change by nourishing with Yin foods. Examples of these foods include:

• Pears, persimmons, grapes
• Beets, string beans
• Black beans, mung beans, kidney beans
• Millet, barley, rice, quinoa
• Eggs, beef, pork, duck
• Clams, sardines, abalone, oysters
• Almonds, pinenuts, sesame seeds
• Seaweeds, micro-algae (such as spirulina or chlorella)
• Honey (raw & organic!)

2. Nutrition

Refined sugar and other processed foods offer a quick craving fix. In the long run this depletes both the Yin and the Yang of the body, leaving you exhausted. Because your energy is drained, the immune system won’t be functioning at its best.

As a result, you will be more vulnerable to the cold or flu virus. This vicious cycle can be avoided by simply not eating processed foods.

Try making a nourishing stew with some of the ingredients listed above, your body will thank you!

3. Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help build the immune system and keep it strong. For those who frequently and easily get sick, it is recommended to get acupuncture at least once a week in the fall and winter months.

4. Reflection

That means slow down! Being in rhythm with nature leads to good health. If you look around, everything in nature is starting to contract and move inward. By following nature’s example, we too should start to transition our awareness to our internal (more Yin) self.

Now is the perfect time to integrate meditation into your daily routine. This shift in focus will help solidify our strength and preserve our “fuel” for the winter ahead.

5. Yoga

The way we move and exercise should also reflect this change in seasonal pace, for example, try adopting the following into your weekly routine:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Tai Chi
• Qigong

Yin Yoga, for example, is a more meditative approach to yoga aiming to cultivate awareness of inner silence, and bring to light a universal, interconnected quality.

A presence and mindfulness to our daily life. Unity Yoga Sheffield offer many excellent Yin Yoga classes with experience yoga teachers.

6. Emotions

The focus of autumn is letting go. Trees have no problem letting go of their leaves, nourishing the ground for new growth. It is no coincidence that in Chinese Medicine, autumn is associated with the lungs (grief) and large intestine (letting go).

Now is the time to focus our attention on what we may be hanging onto, and release it! Let it go! Sadness or grief that has been expressed and resolved actually improves your health.

Many people with lung and colon issues have some form of unresolved sadness that needs to be cleared. Below are various ways of working through repressed grief.

• Give yourself permission to truly feel your emotions. It is okay to be sad! It won’t last forever! If you feel like crying, please don’t hold back the tears. Let it out! Crying is a huge emotional release and can bring immense relief.
• Journaling is a great way to bring up any repressed emotions.
• Meditation can also release stored emotions. Below is an example of a great meditation that involves the emotional and physical body.
• Scan your body and feel where the emotion is held. When you have located the sensation, slowly breathe into it. Focus your breath on that space, creating heat. Continue breathing heat into the area until you feel as though the stuck emotional blockage starts to melt away. This exercise can be repeated as often as necessary.
• Seek help through a counselor. Talking with others about your feelings can diminish some of the energetic charge surrounding the emotion and grant you the freedom to let it go.