RESTORE YOUR BALANCE WITH SEASONAL YOGA (1)

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RESTORE YOUR BALANCE WITH SEASONAL YOGA
Would you like to live in greater harmony with
your environment and your self?
Could it be that the disconnection we experience
is because we actively ignore the changing energy
in our natural environment and how this should be
reflected in our lifestyle and behaviour? We (in
our westernised culture) have become accustomed
to living a 24-hour lifestyle, not a seasonal
life.
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Due to electric lighting, artificial heating and
cooling systems, relative ease of travel,
telecommunications, global economies and
never-ending expectations most of us (we must
admit) are completely out of touch with seasonal
conditions and do NOT make adjustments to reflect
the changing aspects of nature. Is it any wonder
we are all exhausted and out of kilter? Seasonal
yoga offers us an opportunity to reflect on our
seasons and consider how we can change our focus
to accommodate the rise and fall in energy
throughout the seasons. According to most yogis,
Seasonal Yoga consists of 5 seasons, adding
a late summer season in its own right, as well as
summer season. Seasonal yoga also tends to marry
together yoga philosophy and practice with
traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on
the 5 elements of water, wood, fire, earth
metal. These elements, in turn, feed into the 5
seasons. Now, as August draws to a close we move
into the season of late summer before
transitioning into autumn. This season
corresponds with the EARTH element in Chinese
medicine. This stage in the cycle is a signal for
us to slow down and reap the fruits of our
efforts, accrued during the high energy seasons
of spring and summer. Yoga practice in late
summer should focus on creating strong
connections to the earth, centring oneself and
stability and this can be reflected in our choice
of yoga poses and by simply bringing our focus to
the connection of our various body parts to the
earth throughout our physical practice. Setting
our intention for the practice to move with
increased awareness of the support offered by the
floor/earth may be all that is necessary to
achieve this grounding effect.
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• For an illustrated guide to a late summer
  sequence follow the link below.
• https//www.yogajournal.com/practice/9-poses-help-
  say-goodbye-summer
• Late Summer Lifestyle Tips
• Make time for yourself after the busy summer
  holidays
• Eat/nourish the body with proper food,
  increasing the colour yellow in the diet
• Exercise should be slightly less energetic than
  full summer, concentrating on muscle tone, core
  stability and balance
• Strengthen your legs and feet which support your
  connection to the earth
• Why not try going bare foot as much as possible?
• Find out about local suppliers of seasonal fruit
  and veg boxes or sign up for a community
  garden/allotment where you could access planters
  to give home growing a go or come up with ideas
  of your own to re-connect with your world and
  importantly your SELF

The Original article Published at restore-balance
Blog -
https//www.restore-balance.co.uk/restore-your-bal
ance-with-seasonal-yoga/