Autumn: Balance and Breath

As we are entering Fall (even though it may not feel like it) we still see signs of Fall in the trees, in our gardens and we can witness the squirrels in their Fall routines. Mother Nature is inviting us to acknowledge all of the things … growth - harvest, death - rebirth. And just as the trees are beginning to let go of what they no longer need.  Autumn is a time for surrender. To lay down what no longer serves us.

NERVOUS SYSTEM PRACTICES:

Knocking:  Stand with feet hip width apart and twist at the waist swinging the arms allowing the hands to land on the body where it feels intuitive 

Heal Raises: Lift onto the balls of the feet and slam the heels down. You can add the arms by lifting them up as you lift the heels and bringing them down as you lower the heels. Exhale out of the mouth.

EMBODIMENT PRACTICES:

Feeling your bones: You can do this anywhere. In your car. In the grocery store. Just grab your forearm and squeeze your arm feeling your bone. It takes 30-90 seconds for your nervous system to respond. You can add taking the same ear to the same shoulder then taking your gaze to the same shoulder. And just soften your breath. Do on both sides.

Feeling the back side of your body: Bringing your awareness to the backside of your body. You can do this in a chair or lying down. Just feel the back travel your awareness down the backside of your body starting with your head all the way down to your feet. You can imagine your breath, a light, a waterfall, honey, or just your awareness...

BREATH:

Ujayi: We used this breath by constricting the back of our throat and inhaling and exhaling out of our nose. We did this in order to focus the mind and stabilize the breath but to also help to move any stale breath from the lungs.

Sama Vriti: As we moved toward the more subtle practices and began the centering mediation we used a breath of equal measure simply inhaling and exhaling fully for the same count. Bringing about more ease and reducing mental chatter.

Returning:  I believe this to be the breath not only for this season but for our time. Coming in and down. Feeling the inhale come in through the crown of the head and travel through the center of the body, or the back of the body, into the pelvis. Then the exhale travels down through the pelvis down both legs and out through the soles of both feet. After several rounds there is a sense of having returned…to be embodied. To be grounded. 

MEDITATION:

If there is a time that you are struggling or sitting with something that is really hard I encourage you to come back to your breath. Simply become aware of your body breathing. Become aware of any tension or gripping in the body. Without judgment just notice. Allow yourself to soften with each exhale. More and more. If it feels right to you ask for your support to come back to be with you. Whether that is a Higher Power, Universal Spirit, angels, a loved one…whatever feels most supportive for you. Ask them to be with you. And continue to breathe. When you are ready, and if it feels safe, identify where this pain or struggle is showing up in your body. Now feel that healing star-like light above you enter through the top of your head. Bathing you like a water fall. Dripping through you like honey until it reaches that point. And watch, witness and allow as this healing light and your support presence takes this pain from your body. Allow and watch it go. Then allow that light to fill the space and your entire body with its healing presence as you continue to breathe. Feeling the love, healing and support that surrounds you. After some time, as you are ready thank your support. Thank your body. Coming back to the awareness of your body breathing. Return to the present moment. 

POCKET ROCK: 

Ocean Jasper: letting go, hope, renewal, faith

Rose Quartz: healing, compassion, boost feelings of peace and calm.