Find Balance this Fall

Today is the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, when day and night are nearly equal, and the sun's arc sinks lower each day as we move toward winter. I'll be celebrating the new season in Maine and NH the first week of October on Firefly's Maine Hiking & Yoga Retreat and camping with my family in the White Mountains. Even though the yellow aspens in Colorado are beautiful, I miss seeing the vibrant reds of the maples and deep orange of the oaks back East. They are forecasting a great foliage season for the Northeast, so I'm excited for some hiking among the trees. 

As we transition from summer to fall, plants and trees slow down, and birds and butterflies migrate south. According to Ayurveda, yoga's sister science, Vata energy picks up at this time of year. The Vata dosha is made up of the elements air and ether and is characterized by qualities such as dryness, coolness, and mobility, which may leave you feeling restless and anxious. You may feel overwhelmed and ungrounded. It can be helpful to keep a predictable daily schedule, eat warm, nourishing foods and use meditation or breathwork to feel more grounded in mind and body. 

The shift in seasons reminds us that life is in constant motion, and each new beginning offers the chance to let go and grow. Letting go isn’t always easy, but it can be an act of self-care, helping us embrace the unknown with the trust that something wonderful may be on the horizon. 

This is also a time to balance who you could become with who you are right now, set new intentions, and step into the next chapter. Whether it’s embarking on a new project, deepening a relationship, or cultivating a new mindset, this season offers the perfect canvas for transformation. 

Set aside time this week to consider what energy you need to bring to this moment to realize your potential and create the life you want to lead. What are you ready to let go of, and what are you excited to welcome into your life? We'll explore these questions during the retreat in Maine, but you can do so at home, too. 

Take a few minutes to sit quietly and visualize your ideal future. Who do you want to be? Who and what are around you? What are you doing, and how do you feel? In this visualization, ask, “What energy do I need to cultivate more of in my life today to become that person?” Notice that you don’t ask, “What do I need to do?” Instead, ask, "Who do I need to be?" Because once you've changed at your level of being, the outcome of what you do changes.

Leaning into yoga can help you find balance during this time of transition. National Yoga Month is perfectly timed, occurring this month as we find ourselves in transition. Practice Tree pose (Vrksasana) to help you connect with nature and feel more grounded. 

• Step 1: Stand with both feet firmly on the floor. Engage your left leg and press evenly

  into all four corners of your left foot; bend your right knee and bring your foot to the inside of your left calf or thigh, with your toes pointing down. Use your hand to assist if needed. Make sure your foot is above or below the knee, not directly against the knee joint.

• Step 2: Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor, keep your hips squared and open the right knee. Firmly press the sole of your right foot against the inner calf or thigh, and resist with the left leg. Bring your palms together at your heart. Gaze softly at a fixed point in front of you – something that is not moving.

• Step 3: Option to take a variation in the arms, such as reaching overhead or down toward the floor. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

• Step 4: Bring your hands back to your heart, point the right knee forward and release your foot back to the floor.

• Step 5: Repeat for the same length of time with the legs reversed.

I hope this was helpful, and I wish you a gentle transition into fall.