As the leaves begin to fall and the air becomes crisp, Autumn is a beautiful time to shift your focus inwards. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Autumn is a time for reflection, introspection, and letting go. It’s a time to nourish your body and mind in preparation for the cooler months.
In TCM, Autumn is associated with the metal element organs of the lungs and large intestine. This invites you to let go of what no longer serves you and pay extra attention to strengthening your respiratory and digestive systems.
Try integrating these rituals into your life over Autumn to stay grounded, balanced, and healthy.
Five Rituals to Practise in Autumn
Breathe: Deep breathing helps to strengthen and nourish your lungs. Consider integrating deep breathing exercises into your daily life. You may like to incorporate a pranayama exercise like viloma into your practice or encourage your breath to move all the way down into your lower belly a few times throughout the day.
Eat foods that support your intestines and lungs: To support the digestive system, incorporate more pungent and spicy foods into your diet, such as ginger, garlic, and onions. According to TCM, white foods, such as cauliflower, mushrooms, and white beans, are especially beneficial for the lungs - so you may like to include some more of those too (sorry, yogis, ice cream doesn’t count!).
Embrace yin energy at home: As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, the energy of Autumn shifts from yang (outward and active) to yin (inward and receptive). Embrace this yin energy by creating a cosy and nurturing home environment. Use warm colours, soft fabrics, and dim lighting to create an ambience of comfort and relaxation.
Slow down: To further embrace this yin energy, it’s important to prioritise rest and relaxation. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, and embrace practices like restorative yoga, yin yoga, and meditation.
Let go: Just as the trees release their leaves, you can let go of what no longer serves you. This may be physical clutter in your home or emotional baggage you’ve been carrying. Take time to declutter your space and journal about emotions, behaviours or beliefs you’d like to let go of.
We hope these rituals inspire you to embrace the beauty and abundance of Autumn. By nourishing your body and mind this season, you’ll be better equipped to face any challenges of winter with ease and grace.
On the 26th of March 2023, we’ll release a special collection of on-demand videos for you to practice from home this Autumn. When the time is right head to this link to taste-test the series.