One of the most beautiful seasons is upon us. Days are starting to get shorter, temperatures are getting cooler and the leaves are a stunning mix of orange, yellows and reds. Kids are back at school, seasonal treats fill the stores, and there’s a wonderful feeling of change in the air. However Autumn (the Fall) can also bring some personal challenges too.
As the seasons change, our body responds accordingly. During Fall, we may find that our physical activity begins to slow, we want to sleep longer as the hours of daylight are shorter, and despite its beauty, it’s common for our mood to take a dip at this time of year, plus our menopause symptoms change too. Less hot flashes and night sweats and more anxiety, fatigue and joint pain.
Less daylight means our serotonin levels drop, making us crave more comfort foods - particularly high carbs to keep us warm and full. Our metabolism slows down so we may gain a few pounds, and our motivation to exercise decreases too leaving us feeling sluggish. It’s also common for our bones and joints to feel more achy.
Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, defines all of this as a ‘Vata’ inbalance - Vata being one of the three Doshas that not only defines our individual nature, they define foods and herbs, as well as the seasons that are necessary to keep both our mind and body in balance.
So, how can we balance our Vata and learn to love Fall?
- Practice daily yoga that includes plenty of grounding and twisting poses - even if it's only 10 minutes a few times each week
- Meditate every day to calm the mind and mood - a short 5 minute practice can work wonders
- Journal daily to organise thoughts and de-clutter the mind
- Take some valuable ME time - enjoy a long Epsom Salt bath, get plenty of sleep or go for a walk and be at one with nature
- Keep a routine to stay grounded
- Surround ourselves with positive people
- Try something new and ring in the change
So, there you have it: Autumn or the Fall is a time of change. A time when we need to look inwards and embrace all the changes that this season brings so that we can keep mastering our menopause and elevate our wellbeing.
Join our Facebook group 'Yoga for Peri/Menopause' and enjoy tips, advice, yoga sequences, classes and meet other like-minded women who are undergoing the same challenges.
Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash