As the bright, hot days of Summer are lulled into the cooler, shorter days of Autumn, we’re able to witness perhaps one of the best examples of a true seasonal transition. Each season holds a particular energy, and whilst Summer is the peak of extroverted ‘yang’, Autumn sees us moving deeper into a quieter, more contemplative state of ‘yin’.
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HOW TO NOURISH YOURSELF IN AUTUMN
Close your eyes briefly, take a deep belly breath and think about the feelings and qualities of the Autumn months. You may have thought of golden, orange and crunchy leaves forming a blanket over the grass or the perfect lightweight cardigan that gives just enough warmth for the cooling temperatures. On the other hand, your mind may have taken you straight to your local farmers market to explore the harvest of delicious produce specific to the March, April and May months. If so, you are the same kind of foodie as us!
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How to Stop Your Mind From Wandering During Meditation
The virtues of meditation and mindfulness are being extolled almost everywhere. Research has shown the practice of meditation can have positive benefits on emotional well-being and physical health and has been indicated for managing serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep problems, and chronic pain. Getting people to try meditation, however, can sometimes be a challenge, particularly for people who have very active minds.
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Life Happens: The Yoga Sutra’s Take on Suffering
The word duhkham, most commonly translated as “suffering,” literally means “tightness or constriction in the chest or the heart area.” If you think about a time you were upset and what that felt like in your body, you’ll probably recognize the feeling. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali uses duhkham to encompass all the disturbances in our equilibrium, from feelings of disquiet or unhappiness to all-out heartbreak. When you’re upset, angry, anxious, sad, unhappy, or devastated, that’s duhkham.
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4 Secrets for Overcoming Fear and Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
Most of the worthwhile things I’ve done in life have really scared me. I’m an introvert, so I don’t thrive speaking in front of large groups—teaching big classes used to scare me so much that I’d feel like I was going to pass out. But I’ve grown to absolutely love it. How? By learning to overcome fear-based thinking patterns. Outside of our comfort zone is where the creative magic really happens! Here are my secrets for overcoming fear and embracing new creative challenges.
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CHALLENGE YOURSELF ON THE MAT AND IN YOUR LIFE
Yoga is no one-trick pony. When you get into the rhythm of a regular practice, you’ll find that morning stiffness is a thing of the past and that your mind is a much friendlier neighborhood to spend time in. Perhaps more surprisingly, it can also provide you with rewarding and performance-enhancing challenges. One of the best ways to test your skills is to practice balance poses—arm balances, one-legged standing poses and advanced twists, but you can also set targets for your flexibility and ability to perform a pose well.
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