As we move into the fall season and the kids head back to school, take time to slow down and care for you.
The end of summer tends to bring about a panic feeling for many of us. We only have so many days left to enjoy the nice weather and the kids are getting ready to head back to school so their longer days are getting limited. With all of this, we tend to cram in everything we can into our days, giving up sleep and good rest, and let our minds wander ahead of where we are in the moment as we try to plan out the details of so many things. Many people don't consider the summer, warmer days as the time that we can get sick or run down. Yet, in our yoga classes when I ask how everyone is doing, I hear, "exhausted, tired, overwhelmed, and not sleeping well," all too often. This does not surprise me and as we move into the cooler, shorter days, it's important to plan time for just you and do things that restore your body, mind, and spirit/energy.
One of the great things about this time of the year is the warmth outside. It's much easier to go out and walk barefoot on the grass, in the sand, or anywhere that's on natural ground (not cement). Just being barefoot on the ground is very calming, stabilizing, and centering for our human bodies and our energy being. The largest pores in our body are in our feet and we can truly absorb minerals and other healthy things through them. Also, our root chakra,
Muladhara, carries the same frequency as the earth when balanced. Just touching the ground and being consciously aware of it with our body is Very powerful.
Try spending some time around a tree or some trees
(depending on if you have allergies) and breathe deeply. As you do, try repeating to yourself or out loud if it works for you, "I give and receive love freely." Our lungs are in the heart chakra,
Anahata. It's no mistake that this chakra is the same frequency as the color of green, and that green plants give us oxygen and we give them what they need, carbon dioxide. It's a beautiful give-and-take that truly exemplifies yin/yang and resembles how we are to live among each other... giving and receiving love freely and evenly. Also, watching the trees change to the beautiful yellow, orange, and red colors is also very grounding... these colors being those of our 3 main earth/human chakras.
Lastly, keep moving and do your Diana homework! Letting our bodies get too far out of alignment is not just painful, but it drains us and restricts the flow of blood, lymph fluid, synovial fluid, and energy which will always force our body to work extra hard. Or, take advantage of our yoga class special this month and come in for some alignment and balancing work to keep your body moving well and to keep your immune system healthy. Yoga does strengthen and lengthen the muscles of the body for sure, but it also helps in such powerful ways to keep all of our vital organs working together well and to keep all systems balanced.
Wishing you a wonderful, healthy end of summer and beginning of fall.
Namaste,
Diana
