ROOTED, RELAXED, AND READY.
Autumn begins Vata Season.
Vata is the "air" element characterized by wind and movement as well as coolness, lightness, and dryness. It is this energy that brings us through the elimination process and aging process overall. In autumn and early winter, it is the dominant energy both around and within us. Vata is the energy needed for change and re-creation.
As the seasons and nature change, so do we. And so should our yoga practice. Ayurveda is a seasonally-based approach to living life in accord with our surroundings and seasons. And in short, practicing yoga in communion with nature is the heart of what Ayurveda is all about.
And when things on the outside start really moving around in nature, it is the time to begin pulling in and grounding down in our bodies.
Make sure you do not over extend or deplete yourself in your practices this season. Practice should be strengthening and revitalizing but never draining or depleting. It is not the time to become exhausted and ungrounded. Always move at a slow, smooth, steady pace. Let your poses be fluid (not staccato or rigid). Move like you are moving through water. Poses should encourage stability, but don’t hold for so long that you become rigid.
Let your awareness return over and over to your feet and your legs, the foundation of the pose. Imagine staying connected to the earth. Emphasis rooting down through your big toes even as you feel your heels deep in the earth.
Enjoy this 6 minute slow flow yoga sequence every morning!
This short practice can help you start your day with a sense of strength, ease and mindfulness. In this sequence you will flow through standing poses to create groundedness, side body openers and breathe awareness to lift your energy and promote clarity, and an active forward bend, to help soothe your nervous system with out making you sleepy. Feel free to begin or follow this practice with a seated mindfulness meditation.
Want a longer practice?
You can add some more of your own poses each day. Include gentle movements to open the spine, pelvis and hips; helping to free your breath while encouraging downward movement into your legs and feet. Consider poses such as Standing Mountain (Tadasana), Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana), Triangle (Trikonasana), Tree Pose (Vriksanana), Cat Cow Flow, Childs Pose (Balasana), Bow Pose (Dhanurasana), Hero’s Pose (sitting on a block) (Virasana), Squat Opener (Malasana), Cross Legged Seat. (Sukhasana), and Final Rest (Savasana).
