Have you noticed the transitions that are signaling that we are moving into Fall?

My friend pointed out today the change in the light because the angle of the sun has shifted
I am aware that the sun is rising later and setting earlier
Plants are starting to dry out and turn brown despite the rains
The breezes are cooler too even though the temperatures are still high

Fall transitions are important to note because it means we’re moving from Pitta season—the season of wet heat—to Vata season—the season of dry cold.

It’s hard to believe when you’re baking in the hot sun that Fall is on its way, but the signs are all pointing in that direction.

According to Ayurveda, we should look for these signs because, as creatures of Nature, we are affected by these transitions from the inside out. If we don’t pay attention to them we may be surprised when our delicate physical systems come under the sway of these changes and are unable to re-balance. Ayurvedic wisdom encourages us to take steps now to care for our bodies:

Eat apples and cherries, late summer foods which help to dispel summer’s heat

Sip water that is room temperature or hotter throughout the day to stay consistently hydrated

Move the body regularly so that all the systems of the body can operate optimally

Sit quietly for a while every day for meditation or deep breathing

Get more sleep by getting up with the sun and going to bed a little earlier in the evening

Observe the Fall transition in order to stay in tip-top shape as we say “good-bye” to another summer and prepare for the cooler, dryer, darker days to come.

The week before last I spent 30 hours in live training with my teacher. He organized these five days around the theme of “Yoga as Empowerment.” I notice that we don’t often think of yoga in this way; it’s more common to talk about the physical benefits of yoga, such as flexibility, balance and strength. So how did my teacher emphasize the empowering aspects of Yoga?

The key to Yoga’s empowering qualities is ENERGY. Yoga makes it possible for us to use energy in these powerful ways:
▪ to digest food and make good use of the nutrients we ingest
▪ to move our body to heal, lengthen and strengthen it
▪ to direct emotions in ways that regulate our nervous system and nurture meaningful relationships with others
▪ to organize our thoughts so we can accomplish life goals that will be of benefit to the whole world, and
▪ by sending love and light to all beings who are struggling or suffering.

For me, the most empowering aspect of Yoga is that it’s given me the tools to take better care of myself. I have learned how to move to care best for my body, how to breathe to self-regulate breath and emotions, how to meditate to maintain a calm and focused mind, and how to connect with Spirit as a way of connecting with the deepest meaning of life.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes just now to consider what empowers you and especially how you have been empowered through the ancient art and science of Yoga.