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Dear ones:
It seems that summer came and went in an instant this year. It is now October, and the signs of Autumn are everywhere. As the days become shorter and the nights longer, the temperature continues to drop, providing welcome relief after an especially hot and humid summer. Rich fall colors—browns, reds, oranges, and golden-yellows--are popping up everywhere, along with a bounty of pumpkins and chrysanthemums, and all the creepy accoutrements of Halloween.
This has always been my favorite time of year. Growing up in west Texas, I loved the cool crisp mornings that necessitated a sweater on the walk to school and the sound of the dried leaves crunching under the soles of our shoes. Today, Lula and I are spending more time outside, enjoying longer walks in the cooler temperatures. Last week I purchased a new bike and am geared up to ride, minus the summer heat and sweat!
This time of the year is an excellent time to enjoy being outside here in Texas! As we shake off the heat and humidity of summer, Fall allows us time to slow down a bit, to reconnect with routines that may have dropped by the wayside over the busy summer, and to prepare ourselves for the cold and dry Winter to come. It is also a great time for self-reflection and assessment of your progress this year. Are there projects or activities that you wanted to do but you haven’t yet gotten around to? Has your sadhana become sporadic or been dropped altogether? This is your chance to reflect back over the last nine months and decide what the remainder of the year will look like for you. Once we understand where we’ve been, its so much easier to decide where to go next. This is your opportunity to clarify your priorities and take care of the things that matter most to you!
Ayurveda tells us that we are most healthy when we are in alignment with nature. Fall weather tends to be dry and windy, and for many of us in the Southern US, it’s also still hot. What does that mean from a practical standpoint? It is time to re-establish routines, set regular and consistent schedules, and ground our energy. When you're hungry, seek out warm, slightly oily, and cooked foods to support a healthy immune system. This is a great time to be in the kitchen; soups, stews, and other warms offerings, typically considered to be comfort foods, provide nourishment on multiple levels. At the farmer’s market, you will notice root vegetables and cool-weather greens such as kale, collard greens, and Swiss chard are readily available for your table.
And finally, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month is recognized internationally as a means of bringing attention to the importance of breast health and the heavy toll of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2006, so this December marks 18 years that I have been cancer-free. Each day I wake up, I am grateful for this blessing of ongoing health and life!
I've been working on some new offerings and am excited to share them with you! I will be posting details on small group classes beginning in November, and Yoga Teacher Training for 2025 very soon! In the meantime, reach out if you have any questions about Yoga or Yoga Therapy and how it might bring a little more peace and balance to your life!
Blessings,
Nancy
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