By mid-august (in the northern hemisphere) we should start to notice a shift in energy around us. The days become shorter + nights less balmy. Sunlight mutes from its firey blaze to a more golden glow + we are inclined to take back the reigns, to slow down, return homewards + appreciate the last of the summer treasures. But the equinox + the season of autumn is still a long way off so what is this golden time between Summer + Autumn vibes? This quality of time is held by a cherished 5th season in TCM + Seasonal Yoga ~ The Late Summer season.
While in the passions of summer we enjoy feeling wild, loose + free, the energy of Late summer should support us + feel more of a WHOLESOME + abundant time of year being of the EARTH ELEMENT + harvest time.
It is the season of celebrating being in our most abundant, fullest, ripest, richest state of body mind + spirit – just as nature is at this time.
The start of the season is usually packed with outdoor activities, adventures, camping perhaps just to catch the last drops of summer vibes. Kids + parents are preparing to go back to school + moving into a new year of education.
I love that the French call this time ‘La Rentrée’ ~ the re-entry / the return. This is very on point with our Seasonal yoga + qigong approach which meets the returning energy in season + helps us come BACK TO CENTRE to take stock of our physical, mental + energetic states after the highs of summer.
From a centred place we can process what has been + prepare ourselves for the physical, mental + energetic state that we need to be in for what is to come.
Tis the season of being good to ourselves ~ of making choices that nurture + support our health + our worth + building structure around self care through this transition season. A balanced season will ground us + prime us for a healthier happier release into autumn + winter vibes. (Read more of Seasonal Balance in the BLOG)
Late Summer is a great season to establish ROUTINE + dive into your yoga practice! At this time of year our mountain yoga classes move inside + we focus more on appreciating our body to understand our individual needs + adaptations to ensure a supportive yoga practice in class + at home.
To bring effect to this nourishing + grounding energy, our Late Summer practice is centred around:
- Core stability + ‘Bandha’ awareness
- Hips+ lower body mobility + strength ~ Warriors, Balancing poses, supine hip + leg stretches.
- Steadying Breathwork ~ alternate nostril breathing + square breathing
- Grounding + calming meditations ~ body scans, grounding with red + orange colour imagery, forest bathing, stillness in nature, walking meditation.
Click HERE for in-studio schedule.
Symptoms of imbalance at this time of year can lead to:
- Difficulties with change
- Scattered headspace or overthinking
- Worry, anxiety or overwhelm
- Issues with digestion or metabolism
- Fluid imbalance, prolapse, muscle weakness + fatigue (i.e. internal dampness)
Yoga always helps!
Whether or not you can make it to class, at this time of year your focus should be on getting into a ROUTINE OF SELF CARE – in particular:
- Better NOURISHMENT (physical, mental, energetic)
- Manage your GUT + DIGESTIVE SYSTEM health
- Affirm the importance of being rooted anchored + self assured ~ a steadiness from which change can readily take place.