Metal
As I mentioned in a prior blog article, I fell in love with Yin Yoga many years ago.
This practice is a wonderful balancer. It slows you down, allows you to work more deeply on breathwork and mental clarity. Because the holds are long, the practice gives you time to connect the mind and body. Often, you will feel your body change over the length of the hold. It gets easier, or harder, and the sensations may move. You learn how to follow those sensations to continue them, or you can let them go. For me finding "active stillness" for an extended period not only works physical wonders in my body, fixing all the wrongs from sitting at a desk all day, but provides space in my mind, helping me to free myself from constantly being "on" in my head.
What I did not discuss is my love of combining Yin with the seasons. This is where I can tap into something deeper, honoring what is happening now where we are, and how to apply those elements into daily life during that time.
I am excited to announce I have created some lovely extended yin practices at Sellwood Yoga over the next five seasons (Yes! Five seasons! Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer and Late Summer), called 5 Element Seasonal Yin.
According to Chinese Medicine there are 5 elements that are fundamental to the cycles of nature and are reflected in the cycles of our bodies. The elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element is associated with its own season, emotion, and organ system.
Our current season, Autumn, correlates with the Metal element and the Lung and Large Intestine meridians found in the subtle body. The Autumn season power is balance.
The Metal Element, the Lung/Large Intestine Meridians and Autumn are all about transformation. The Lungs transform the air we breathe into the oxygen necessary for our bodies to function and the Large Intestine eliminates the waste that our bodies no longer need. To appreciate the preciousness of each breath and to begin drawing our energies inward to prepare for the longer and colder months ahead. This seasonal transition is the beginning of the yin half of the year's cycle where nature's energy begins to descend and contract. Temperatures fall, leaves drop, days shorten.
It is during this time of the year people more likely to experience asthma, allergies, colds and flus, develop stress related skin issues, bowel disturbances, depression and anxiety. For many of us, this is the most challenging of the transitions. The falling energy of the year is a reminder of what goes up must come down.
On Sunday, October 20th, from 4:00-5:30pm, I will be guiding this special seasonal extended Yin practice, 5 Element Seasonal Yin Extended Practice – Autumn/Metal.
Join me for 90 minutes where we will explore the metal element and the principles of the autumn season to find balance, using curated yin poses that complement the Lung and Large Intestine meridians that are the asana focus this seasonal theme. This class will be illuminated by candlelight/natural light.