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!