As the days get shorter and colder we move from Pitta time to Vata time. The doing and heat of summer subside and we naturally move into a more contemplative and creative place. In the autumn you may want to lean into this sense that with the right creative solution anything is possible. Or if the shadow side of that feeling, anxiety and ungroundedness, are your natural state, you may want to find some activities and movements that ground you back down. If all of that is just too much thinking then simply enjoy and celebrate the season you are in now with some cozy autumn activities.  

 

Practice One

Mindfully go through your clothes from the summer: 

This is a task most of us who live in a place with sessions have to do anyway. Why not romanticize it and set yourself up for an enjoyable time when you bring your summer clothes back out in the Spring. Set the mood with an autumn Slow TV or background ambiance on YouTube. I have a few of my favorite below but the options are endless. Pick something that feels special to you. Then gather a yummy fall beverage, I like a hot toddy, and a pen and paper for notes.  

Resist the urge to multi-task. Take all of your clothes out of the closet in a big pile, Marie Kondo style, so you can clean out the corners of the closet. Take a few minutes to dust, take a look at your hangers, generally set the base for your winter wardrobe. If you notice you need anything make a list of ideas and sit on it for a few days before making organization purchases. Another area to consider for equipment is where you put your out of session clothes. Mine are in big garment bags under the bed for easy access. 

Center. Take a few breaths to feel your body and make the intention to be kind to yourself. Next go through the clothes from the summer. Make sure everything you are putting away to be pulled out next year served you this year. If you have lots of things that didn’t fit or you simply never wore, consider putting them in a different place for donation or longer term storage. I recently changed sizes from a medium to a large and last year I kept the medium clothes. It was not fun to realize I didn’t have any shorts that fit my current body in the Spring. This year I will take care of my future self by donating the medium clothes but you can also just put them in a separate storage container for possible future use if you are not ready to let go of your former self. Same goes for if you have a known season of changing body shape like pregnancy. Enjoy this self care for your future. If you really want to get into it you can leave yourself notes or affirmations. Take your time and enjoy the process.   

Practice Two

Try Kirtan Kiyra Meditation

I have recently been getting inspired to try more Kandeloni yoga practices. This is a beautiful meditation practice that I think is perfect for autumn. This time of year you may struggle with your voice and expressing yourself. This meditation has a mantra element that will give you a good way to practice using your voice. Also the vibration of your voice can help to tone the vagus nerve and promote decreased reactivity to stress. Transitions can be stressful, even if your little Vata heart loves them. Use this meditation to fortify yourself for the time ahead and to feel your best right now, today. I suggest simply following this lovely guide on YouTube and then you can look and find some different options on Spotify that just has the mantra guide. If you need it even more customized to the time you have, simply use a timer to let you know when to transition through the parts.  

Practice Three

Commit to a movement practice 

Any yoga flow that facilitates you feeling grounded in your feet and then moves your body with creative flow is great for Autumn. I have curated a few from YouTube that I love, including my own, and welcome you to try doing one of these daily for a set number of days, 3, 7, 30, 108… Just make a commitment. Dedicate yourself to a practice and that dedication will be the thing that really does the work. This time of year it is hard to stay consistent. You may find yourself having a hard time concentrating. Making this commitment will help you keep yourself organized. Keep it easy. Keep it simple. Give yourself a lot of reminders. ENJOY. 

I hope you have enjoyed these Autumn practices. I would love to hear about your favorite Autumn traditions. Comment below or email me. I would love to hear from you. 

 

Oxox,