I was delighted to see leaves in shades of red and gold while doing yoga on a screened porch in the woods last weekend. A fresh season is upon us and I’m grateful for the cool breeze accompanying it. As summer comes to a close over the next few weeks, I encourage you to spend some time in svadhyaya (self-study). As nature changes around you, it prompts you to turn within and make your own changes.
Each fall I grab a hot cocoa topped with marshmallows, curl up with a comforter, and pull out the Wheel of Life exercise (see page 73 of hip tranquil chick), which you may have been exposed to during workshops, while working with a coach, or on any retreat with me. This exercise has you assess your level of satisfaction with areas such as health, home environment, education, finances, relationships, joy, creativity, self-care, career, and spirituality. Your level of satisfaction could easily change daily, depending on positive feedback at the office, a messy home, a breakup, or a lingering cold. By taking a look at these categories on a seasonal basis, you can establish action steps to move past stagnation. This also allows you to catch any brewing dissatisfaction or dreams that may be beneath the surface.
Yoga allows us the opportunity to move out of our head and into our bodies. Listen within. What beckons you? What is calling for change or exploration? Just as we explore our edge on the yoga mat by seeking that place of sensation beyond the comfort zone before pain, I encourage you to find your edge off the mat this fall. I’m joining you on this exploration by returning to graduate school to pursue a MSW.
What will be your new pursuit or surrender this season? Namaste.
5 comments:
My new pursuit will be to start a home yoga practice. I will surrender the need for perfection...
Yes, autumn is definitely, a natural time for reflection. Good luck with your MSW.
I will pursue optimism and enthusiasm for my classes and activities/clubs I'm involved in. Therefore surrendering the whining and gloom that often accompanies a hefty workload. I will also attempt to surrender procrastination, and pursue whatever the best use of my time is at any given moment.
I love Autumn, it is my favorite holiday and the season I was born in. The red and golds are amazing, especially when accompanied by crisp air and the smell of apples and chimneys. My reflection of self will be focused on my first semester in my PhD program, buying a new house, and living in a new state. Good luck Kimberly with your MSW program. You will be a fantastic SW!!!! It is people like you, who want to truly make a difference, who become the best SWs.
Thanks, Kimberly, for the inspiring words. Fall is the perfect time for reflection--with its changing colors and cooler air. I feel motivated to change my perspective during a period of transition--a recent separation, a new home, a new neighborhood--from one of feeling overwhelmed to one of considering possibilities for growth and happiness.
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