Hey everyone, how are you fairing?

As we head into late-autumn, with the clocks now changed and the cooler weather upon us how’s things?

I love the autumn time, the leaves turning, the cosiness of the darker evenings where lights twinkle in warm homes and we can begin to hibernate. But autumn for me also comes with some challenges.

After the summer break (which I am always grateful for), the start of term in September, is always tricky to navigate – getting back into routine, wondering if classes will re-fill, re-finding the energy to get back to full weeks of classes... it usually takes me to the end of September for me to get it all back into place again.

This year with our oldest starting high school, we’ve had to navigate lots of change and new systems to our term-time routine, and of course with the continuing journey though covid times, and our first family round of colds for 12 months, it has seemed perhaps a bit trickier than usual.

But November feels good, I’m back in a rhythm, classes are for the most part full and energised and the sunshine on the autumn colour around us is uplifting.

There’s a cycle to this rhythm of challenge and ease for me which I can observe. A cycle that usually lasts for a few weeks at time (but I sometimes notice it over days or longer over months). There’s usually a beginning – perhaps a new term or project; a growth usually follows – getting back into routine, projects building and then there’s status quo which comes along where I’m maintaining things in a pretty easy fashion. Then there’s some sort of dissolution – a fork in the road, an unexpected (or sometimes expected) challenge, a loss of momentum or energy. The feeling of challenge and sometimes overwhelm… and then there’s a point of letting go. Realising the challenge and the overwhelm also can’t be sustained. Then back to the beginning again. Can you see this pattern in your own daily life?

In Yogic philosophy Lord Shiva when represented as Nataraja – Lord of the Dance, dances within the cosmic circle of fire, the simultaneous and continuous creation and destruction of the universe. So we see this creation and destruction in cycles in our own lives, within each day and within each season.

But how do we get back to the beginning and start again when one of our cycles ends? When do we realise we have to let go?

I’m sure if we look deeply there are many things that re-inspire us, lift us, re-energise us. You will have your own personal experience of people, activities or things that often help you to let go and get back to the beginning again. For me this autumn, I have made sure to notice when overwhelm or challenge starts to unfold. Sometimes I’ve been successful in putting things in place that bring back the ease – reaching out and asking for help (not my strong point), taking time out to rest and head off that first cold, (cancelling classes for the first time in a long time), listening to my body and nervous system and using restful yoga practices such as restorative yoga, yoga nidra and meditation. But I’ve been less successful too – times where my sleep patterns become erratic and I’m awake a lot in the night often signal the need to take a pause, let go of a few things that are less important and focus on the most important things. These times always pass – as is the nature of the cycle – but sometimes I know I don’t quite listen hard enough to what my body and mind is telling me and then it takes longer to get through the challenges and back to the beginning.

This autumn ‘Rest and Digest’ has been key for me to work through challenges and end of cycles. Making time for me each week – a walk in nature, a restorative yoga practice, planning and cooking a really nice family meal, getting in the garden. The self care is important even if its just 5 minutes a day to pause, reflect, meditate perhaps. Yoga Nidra continues to be a tool that I come back to regularly as a receiver and as a teacher. It has more than once broken the cycle of sleepless nights. I love to offer the practice in class to my students as it’s such an effortless way to rest.

As we move through the rest of the autumn and into winter I will continue to make time for self care, for ‘rest and digest’. To see me through the next cycles of daily life and also to keep my body and mind well over the winter months. Good food, warm drinks, cosy evenings, quiet yoga practices such as yoga nidra.

If you would like to make the same commitment to yourself at this time of year where slowing down and letting go is important then you might like to start here.

This is an Autumn Yoga Nidra Relaxation Meditation for you to listen to. Try to find a quiet and undisturbed time to listen. All you need is a comfy space to lie down – your bed or use lots of blankets and cushions on the floor, or you can sit and listen if you prefer. I hope that it offers you a little bit of space to rest, re-energise and let go.

This Yoga Nidra was another collaboration with my teacher, Barrie Risman (BarrieRisman.com) who added in the gentle tamboura sounds in the background. If you prefer not to have music playing you can listen to the second version. Why not try them both and see which you prefer?