Breathe easy this Autumn.

Autumn is my favourite time of year at home, but it's a very different feeling in Abu Dhabi. Instead of being tinged with a sense of gloom as the nights draw in, here everyone is excited about the temperature becoming more manageable and busy planning for weekends of barbecues and trips to the beach. No scarf and tasteful knits for me this year but in terms of yoga here's how I will be bringing a little bit if autumn into my life.

Body: The change of seasons brings lots of nasty bugs and viruses and we need to make sure our lymphatic system is working well to protect ourselves. Stimulate the body by dry body brushing every morning and then rub a natural body oil or lotion into damp skin.  Have a massage or burn essential oils like thyme, eucalyptus, pine and rosemary to stimulate and strengthen the lungs.

Mind:  Autumn is a time for mental clarity. Get rid of things, thoughts and people that are sources of negativity and stick to a daily routine in your diet, exercise and life to give yourself focus and structure. Autumn is a great time of year to try meditation, so find 5 minutes each day to sit peacefully and mindfully. Something as simple as counting your breath can bring an amazing feeling of peace and clarity.

Diet: Add ginger, turmeric and garlic to dishes to boost the immune system.  Roasted root vegetables with a whole grain like bulgar wheat or quinoa make a perfect autumn meal.  Avoid dairy and foods like bananas and oranges which can clog up the respiratory system. This can be especially vulnerable here where we swing from a hot dusty environment to air conditioned germ-infested coolness all of the time.

Practice: Start to slow things down and lead all postures with the breath, focusing on flowing with each inhale and exhale. The meridians for the lung and large intestine run up and down the arms and across the shoulders, so postures should work these areas. Try the arm movement  'drawing the bow' in conjunction with the breath to stimulate these energy channels. Asanas should strengthen and protect the body, so build the following postures into your practice: Utkatasana (chair), bhujangasana (cobra), Virabhadrasana 1 and 3 (warrior 1 & 3), Ardha chandrasana (half moon), Upavista Konasana & Supta Konasana (seated & supine angle pose),  Halasana (plough) and Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), Salabhasana (locust).  Surya Namaskara B (sun salutation B) would therefore be the perfect autumn warm up. You can see a little video clip of me practising this on my Facebook page.  

MLH Yoga: Surya Namaskara B

Pranayama (breath work) is also extremely beneficial, so try to incorporate 5 minutes of Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) into your daily practice to balance energy in the body and find clarity.

Autumn information:

Dates: 21st October - 20th December

Colour: metallic greys and silver.

Element: metal

Organs: lungs and large intestine.

Seasonal round up - Late summer reflections.

As October begins I'm ready to move on in my practice and am busy planning how to adopt Autumn seasonal yoga for this new climate. I hadn't really expected to feel this way as there aren't the same clues here that I am used to - yes it is getting 'cooler' and the humidity is slowly dropping (today it was a chilly 38c) but there are no changing leaves or damp, misty mornings to make me feel autumnal.  So why am I ready? I think it's because the pattern of life remains the same.  The kids are settled in school, the busy time at work is beginning in the race to the end of the year and everyone is coughing and sneezing with allergies and Ex-pat flu as a summer's worth of international germs circulate round the crowded air conditioned schools and offices. It is definitely time to switch to a flow that is going to strengthen the lungs and clarify the mind as the chaos and the calamity of the changing season builds.

I have managed to avoid it so far, and although I have felt sniffly at times, I feel like my body is strong enough to keep the worst at bay (touch wood). There have been lapses (some of them quite extreme) but on the most part I have eaten well and have been using my diet and asana practice to strengthen my immune system, whilst the focus on feeling grounded has helped me settle into the new way of life with minimum upset.  My hips are nice and open, my core is stronger and my lower back pain is much improved. I have found a renewed energy and focus for my work and have been getting through the to-do list at a comparative rate of knots, whilst really enjoying the time I've spent building up my yoga website and profile. I've also done my fair share of spoiling myself, which to be fair, isn't hard in this part of the world! But after a long summer being Mum, there has been no greater pleasure then spending time making friends and socialising with all the other liberated parents or sitting quietly with a cup of coffee (sorry, herbal tea) and watching the world go by in silence.  As the season changes that is one Late Summer practice that I would like to keep!