Have you noticed? The leaves are turning brown, the air is getting crisp, and everything is suddenly pumpkin-flavored. You know what that means, right? Fall is here. But fall is more about flavored lattes and cozy sweaters. Fall is about letting go of the “I can do everything” attitude of summer and settling into a quieter, more reflective state. This change of season can come as a shock and a lot of us, maybe without even realizing it, are resisting this change. So take a moment to ask yourself… are you resisting change? If so, read on to learn how you can use yoga to open to change this season.
Connect to your body and ask yourself what you need
The more you practice yoga the more in touch you become with your body, mind, soul, and the connection between the three. Whether you practice yoga every day or once a week, a regular yoga practice will help you learn to identify and listen to the voice of your body.
Slow your breath to slow your mind and calm your soul
Many yoga traditions would argue that when it comes down to it, a lot of yoga is simply learning to breathe. When we slow our breath down, we activate what is called the parasympathetic nervous system. This means that breathing slow triggers a response in your brain that tells your body to relax and start the healing process.
Open your heart and open to change
Maybe the only change your experiencing is the change of seasons. Most likely, there are a few other opportunities for change in your life. Whether it is a small change like painting a wall in your house or a big change like quitting your job, change can be scary and it can be incredibly hard for us to open to change.
One physical aspect of yoga that can help is working on heart openers. Backbends and chest openers can help you expand the space around your heart and trigger an internal reaction that will then make it easier to embrace and open to change in your life.
Set your intention and stick to it
One common yoga practice is intention setting. So as the season changes, set an intention for fall. Set an intention to open to change and then work fearlessly to embrace this intention. The process of change may be scary and hard, but once you open to change the result is a freer you.
If you are looking for something to jumpstart your journey toward change, consider heading on a yoga retreat. Yoga retreats are a great opportunity to deepen your yoga practice and taking a week to yourself and your practice can be just the thing you need to start fresh and open to change. Take a look at our retreat calendar to find your perfect yoga adventure!
