Autumn = Fall

This year I have been meeting weekly with a group of students who mostly live in the US and I love how they talk about this season as ‘the fall’. In my ears the word is so evocative. The trees shedding their leaves, all gold and red and crispy underfoot. I can almost scent the woodsmoke in the air and picture the apple harvest and I imagine myself having cosy nights in, snuggled up with colourful blankets and something warming to drink.

In reality for me autumn doesn’t feel quite like that. The ‘fall’ is more a fall in my energy levels as the light levels and temperature dip. I used to fight my way against the autumn season… and then grit my teeth a bit more to survive the wintertime!

In recent years I’ve been practising a bit more acceptance and ability to flow with the seasons, to live more in harmony with the natural world. I now work with my energy rather than against it. It’s taken years of deep listening (aka yoga) to become sensitive to my needs, rather than denying how I feel and trying to power through it. Some days that means my yoga practice is slow and quiet, nourishing me when my energy is low, cultivating gratitude towards the darker seasons which provide more opportunity for resting. Other days I feel my energy could do with a boost and I know that a more vigorous practice will lift me up emotionally and warm me up physically, so I’ll turn up some invigorating music at home or go to a class where other people will energise me.

We talked about autumn practices (mostly the ‘off the mat’ type) in our online restorative class recently and everyone had wonderful ideas and advice. I found them so helpful I’m sharing some of them below. I hope they help you too (with thanks to the online students who generously shared!):

• Make a list “10 things I love about autumn.” You can keep the list and come back to it if the short days are getting you down. This can also be an inspiration for autumn activities you’ll enjoy.
• Change up your diet to include. nourishing, warming foods and local seasonal produce. Inspire yourself by seeking out new autumn-inspired recipes.
• Choose some themed reading to get you in the mood for the various festivals of the season or find a book which evokes the more pleasant aspects of the time of year. Some people love autumn and write so beautifully about it!
• Get outside as much as possible and make the most of the more limited sunlight. Kick up the autumn leaves feeling like a kid, wear warm and waterproof clothing so you stay comfortable and don’t deplete yourself fighting the cold and damp. Cheerful colours can also help!
• Let go of the fashionable cold water plunges and luxuriate in a hot bath. Be liberal with body oil or lotion afterwards. Bonus points for candles in the bathroom.
• Cultivate home hobbies in the dark evenings like reading or crafts, perhaps join an online class to learn a new skill from the comfort of home.
• Watch TV. Don’t roll your eyes judgmentally at this one! Downtime like this can be just what’s needed, enjoying the interest of a new box set or resting into the comforting nostalgia of an old favourite film or show. You can invite a friend over for company as socialising can also be a great mood boost (for them as well as you!).