Every year as autumn arrives, I am reminded of one of life’s most beautiful lessons: the art of letting go. The trees, in their quiet wisdom, show us how to release what no longer serves us. Their leaves turn radiant shades of amber, gold, and crimson before they loosen their grip and drift softly to the earth. There’s such grace in this cycle. No struggle. No resistance. Only trust.
One of my favorite quotes says, “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” Every time I hear these words, I feel a nudge in my own heart to pause and ask: What am I still holding onto?
Letting Go
In my personal journey, letting go has been a constant practice. After multiple surgeries, unexpected changes in my teaching path, and seasons of deep uncertainty, I have found myself clinging to the old ways—habits, identities, and expectations of how I thought life should look. But the more I tried to hold on, the heavier it felt. The more I resisted change, the more stuck I became.
The trees remind us there’s another way. They release with beauty. They trust that even though the branches look bare for a time, spring will come. Life will renew. And so will we.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting or discarding. It means honoring what has been, blessing it with gratitude, and then gently setting it down. Just as fallen leaves enrich the soil, the things we release continue to nourish our growth in unseen ways.
A Mindful Practice for Letting Go
Find a quiet moment today to sit comfortably, either indoors or outside where you can see the sky or feel the breeze. Close your eyes and take a few slow, steady breaths. With each exhale, imagine releasing a leaf into the air—each leaf carrying something you are ready to let go of. Watch it float gently down, landing softly, without force. Allow yourself to trust in this natural rhythm of release.
A Gratitude Meditation
Place one hand on your heart and whisper a quiet thank you for all the lessons the past has given you. Then, breathe in deeply and say silently: “I am grateful for the strength to release.” On your exhale, say: “I create space for new beginnings.” Repeat this simple mantra for a few breaths, letting gratitude and trust fill your heart.
As the trees show us, there is beauty in release. In the space we create, new life will always find its way.
Closing Reflection: This season, may we learn from nature’s wisdom. May we loosen our grip, soften into trust, and embrace the quiet beauty of letting go.
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There’s a quiet magic in letting go. Life often teaches us that holding on—whether to people, habits, expectations, or old stories—can feel safe, familiar, even comforting. Yet, in that very holding on, we may unknowingly close the door to something new, something richer, something that our heart has been quietly waiting for.
“When you let go, you make space for something else.”
Letting go is like the rhythm of the seasons. Consider the tree: in autumn, it releases its leaves—not as a loss, but as a necessary step to conserve energy, grow stronger roots, and prepare for the new life that spring will bring. When we release what no longer serves us—old habits, limiting beliefs, toxic relationships—we lighten our load, create space for clarity, and allow ourselves to grow in ways we couldn’t while holding on.
The benefits of letting go are profound:
Emotional freedom: Lightening the weight of what holds you back can reduce stress and open your heart to joy.
Mental clarity: Releasing mental clutter helps you focus on what truly matters.
New opportunities: Letting go creates space for growth, creativity, and connections that align with your highest self.
Deeper self-trust: Each act of release is an exercise in courage, intuition, and faith in life’s unfolding.
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up and doesn’t mean you failed. It’s an act of courage, a soulful acknowledgment that what’s meant for you cannot thrive while your hands are full of what no longer serves you.
So today, take a moment to notice: what in your life is asking to be released? What can you gently set down to allow room for growth, love, and new beginnings? And remember, the space you create is sacred. It is a canvas for the beautiful, unexpected, and transformative possibilities waiting to enter your life.
Mindful Practice:
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, imagine releasing one thing you’ve been holding onto—fear, doubt, old pain. Feel the lightness that follows. Open your heart to what might come next.
Affirmation:
I release what no longer serves me and welcome the blessings waiting for me.
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Every year I host an end of year ritual to release the year, look for lessons and growth, and find gratitude for what is. This year I was unable to host it so I recorded a sweet little ritual you can do in your own quiet space. I think reflecting on the year and closing it up is a powerful practice to then be open to new possibilities. Why carry over the things that no longer serve you into a new year?
An end-of-year releasing ritual can be a powerful practice for personal growth, emotional well-being, and setting intentions for the future.
Here are the key benefits:
Emotional Cleansing: Allows you to process and let go of emotional baggage, regrets, or disappointments from the year. Creates emotion space for new experiences.
Increased Clarity: Reflecting on the year helps identify patterns, lessons, and areas for growth. Clarifies what to release (habits, relationships, beliefs) and what to nurture moving forward
Stress Reduction: Symbolically releasing stress or negativity can bring a sense of relief and renewal. Encourages mindfulness and relaxation, reducing end-of-year tension.
Enhanced Gratitude: Reflecting on the past year often highlights moments of joy and gratitude. Focusing on what you value reinforces positive emotions and appreciation.
Intentional Goal-Setting: Letting go of what no longer serves you creates space for setting meaningful goals for the new year. Helps align actions with your values and aspirations.
Symbolic Closure: Provides a sense of completion, signaling the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Helps prevent carrying unresolved issues into the new year.
Spiritual Renewal: For those who are spiritually inclined, rituals can provide a sense of connection with something greater, enhancing inner peace and guidance.
You can find the video below, or on my youtube channel. Listen to it while you are still, or while you enjoy a walk outside. Either way I hope it brings you closure and hope.
I personally couldn’t have made it through this hard year without all of the love from my friends, my family, my community of people, and those who I don’t even know.
The generosity of love, support, coffee, encouragement, and pure goodness takes my breath away.
I truly couldn’t have made it without you.
Thank you and let’s close this awful chapter and turn a page for a new direction filled with hope, opportunities and joy.
The Autumn Equinox is a time of letting go and harvesting the good that is abundant in our lives. To allow the stalks and leaves to fall aside and go back to the Earth. With this beautiful and colorful season emerging it is our time to loosen our grip on the focus of growth and prepare to move into a more dormant season.
Autumn Equinox and cycles
This is also a great time to look at the cycles of life; seasons, months, breath, and even life. As we embrace the time of gathering our harvest we are also preparing ourselves for the cycle in which we become more hunkered down. A little more in hibernation mode. The paradox of understanding cycles exists everywhere.
The simplest observation is the breath; to inhale you must also exhale.
When we are awake we come to know that with each ending there is a beginning in whatever shape that takes; self awareness, growth, wisdom, letting go, forgiveness and grief. If we pay attention, we can see this so easily in the changing of leaves. The amazing color that emerges following a season of bounty. Then the ease in which the leaf lets go. Watch as leaves effortlessly fall to the ground. They are taken into the loving arms of Mother Earth for the new growth that waits for the next season.
Take time to look at letting go of what no longer serves you.
At the autumn equinox there is a dynamic shift. The season of sunshine, growth, taking action, movement to a more quiet and still season. This time of year during the equinox is a powerful time to pause after the often chaotic energy of summer. Back to school and busy-ness to a more dormant and contemplative time.
This is time where we replenish, regenerate and recuperate from a season of push.
Well, at least we should try to as the we are so in tune with nature and the natural rhythms of the world, if we are paying attention. Nature responds to the lessening hours of daylight by slowly fading into dormancy. Watch as the leaves fall from trees, the lush green of shrubs and vegetation fades, and animals forage and gather for a season of hibernation. How do we mimic these natural occurrences? We withdraw from the rush of outward action to a season of a more contemplative inner reflection of our spirit.
With this season also comes a wonderful reminder to gather your harvests and share with others and to celebrate the abundance of the world with your neighbors, your family, or even a stranger. We tend to want to hang on to “things”, both tangible and intangible and really all that does is is exhaust us and stop the flow of goodness.
During a yoga practice watch as you move in and out of balance and neutral. How your breath becomes rapid and slow, though we strive for equality of breath. Notice how the tension in our body is often paired with ease. Thoughts come and thoughts go.
The skills that we learn on the yoga to find neutral, equanimity, and harmony teach us the gift of following the rhythm of nature. Remember, our time on the mat is truly a practice for living yoga as we know that yoga really happens off the mat.
Our practice this time of year should reflect the message of the equinox and allow it to be filled with times of pausing to gather your breath, to reflect in mountain pose with a sense of neutrality and to find the balance between dynamic postures and stillness.
Welcome the harvest that is within and always look for opportunities to be grateful.
I know for myself, the practice of gratitude has lead me into a life of awareness that has enhanced my life everyday.
Life is really good, friends.
About Stacie
Stacie believes that it is her life purpose to share the gift of Yoga with anyone who is willing to say yes. In addition to raising a family and being an advocate for those with disabilities, Stacie is founder of Embracing Spirit Yoga which specializes in bringing adaptive Yoga into community centers and rehabilitation clinics. Bringing her depth of compassion to the mat–or the chair–she offers students the opportunity to grow as an individual in all aspects of their life.
With over sixteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is an experienced 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Certified Trauma Informed Coach, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.
Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.
The Harvest
Hello there!
I hope that you are doing well and are finding ways to bring joy into your everyday life. I am hopeful that as we move into a new season we can settle into a sense of calm and peace. The shift to fall can sometimes move us from the chaos that summer sometimes brings to a more grounded way of being.
The Autumn Equinox is a time of letting go and also harvesting the good that is abundant in our lives while also allowing the stalks and leaves to fall aside and go back to the Earth. With this beautiful and colorful season emerging it is our time to loosen our grip on the focus of growth and prepare to move into a more dormant season. This is also a great time to look at the cycles of life; seasons, months, breath, and even life.
We know that with each ending there is a beginning, in whatever shape that takes—self awareness, growth, wisdom, letting go, etc. We see this so easily in the changing of leaves–the amazing color that emerges following a season of bounty, and then the ease in which the leaf lets go. Watch as they effortlessly fall to the ground to be taken into the loving arms of Mother Earth for the new growth that waits for the next season.
I have been recently thinking that it has been such a challenging time for me since my last major hip surgery. Through that process I have changed so much. I no longer am pushing my body in the ways I once did. Rather I am enjoying the pace that my body wants to go at. I enjoy slower walks and have learned a little bit about being at ease instead of extreme activity. Sure, sometimes I miss the hard push up a mountain or the thrill of kickboxing, but through these past months of recovery I have certainly learned about letting go. And that has been a good thing.
I encourage you to go outside. Take a breath. Take time to look at letting go of what no longer serves you. Thank it for its time in your life as the teacher it is and then release it.
Finally, welcome the harvest that is within and always look for opportunities to be grateful. I know for myself, the practice of gratitude has lead me into a life of awareness that has enhanced my life everyday. Let the practice of acknowledging gratitude for all that you have become.
Life is really good, friends.
Blessings, Stacie
Essential Oils & Wellness
Many of you know that I use and rely on essential oils to maintain the health of my mind, body, and spirit. I use them throughout my home from cleaning, for pain management, energy, sleep, mood and much more. One of my favorite things is helping others get started using natural remedies and plant medicine.
You will also get an awesome welcome package from me, access to my VIP community group, education and mentoring and much more. It is easy to get started! I am also happy to chat personally with you to find the perfect options for your needs.
I offer FREE wellness consultations to talk about your goals and desire for a healthier, mind, body and spirit. Together we will create a personalized plan. Schedule yours today!
This ultra grounding blend is a fan favorite. It is all about being grounded and soaking up that forest floor aroma. The result is a calm mind and a super chill feeling. Plus, the petrified wood stones are soooooo pretty!
Cost: $22
Recipes & DIY
Did you know you can use essential oils to add flavor and health benefits to your recipes?? Fall is such a great season for warm, inviting and soul-feeding foods. Check out some of my favorites below.
I have one more batch of marigold body butter left from my summer growing and blending. Marigold’s are in the family of calendula and both support skin and inflammatory responses in the body. Plus it is luxurious. Let me know if you’d like a jar. $25
Peach Jam
Finally, I have PEACH JAM for sale. Let me know if you’d like a jar of this tasty treat. It pairs wonderfully with fresh sourdough bread, but let’s not get crazy, right? $5
Fall Diffuser Blends
I love the smell of fall and these diffuser blends which not just smell great, but your family will benefit from the healthy supports essential oils add when used aromatically.
YOGA
Online LIVE classes
Following my 30 Days of Yoga (you can find everyday on my Youtube Channel), I decided to offer at least one LIVE ONLINE class. This month I am offering a RESTORATIVE class on 9/18 at 6:30pm. You will simple need a quiet space, some pillows and this link!! The passcode is yoga.
My YouTube channel has continued to grow and you can find all kinds of videos there. Everything from chair yoga to restorative to traditional classes. Plus, you’ll find some bonus stuff, too!
This format is one of my most popular and loved! Just click on the link below and you’ll have access to the online class. Donations are appreciated. If you need samples of essential oils to fully enjoy the practice, just reach out to me.
Are you a current yoga teacher? I am also offering a yoga teacher mentoring program to help yoga teachers learn how to modify and teach to those with different abilities. Ask me more!
Life Lessons from an Autumn Leaf
We know change is coming, so we embrace its beauty for all the world to see. It’s exciting when my friends and I all begin to turn colors. I can imagine its much like when humans get their hair done or change their style of clothing. You just feel brand new, hot, beautiful–a sight to be seen, for sure. When most of us receive our new colors, and a few begin to fall, the humans come out by the droves. I’ve watched so many walking hand-in-hand. I’ve heard many intimate conversations and often witness family portraits. Children ooh and ah about the wonder of our change, and the whole world seems to take a second glance to admire our new look.
However, as the cold winds begin to blow, we know we must hold on tight to our branches until it’s our time to fall. It’s interesting because none of us want to drop. We just want to stay in our spot, high above the ground and admire the magnificent atmosphere fall brings.
1. Radiate Beauty. Autumn brings an abundance of fall colors and textures. The reds, oranges, yellows, golds and rust tones of autumn delight the senses in landscapes and rich sunsets, inspiring poets and visual artists. Take the time to radiate your own beauty and creativity to the world.
2. Connect with Your Shadow. After the long, bright sunlit days of summer, autumn brings earlier sunsets and longer shadows. It’s an ideal time for thoughtful introspection and shining the light of awareness on our own shadow parts.
3. Let Go. Trees willingly and naturally shed their leaves after putting on a radiant fall show of colors. Is there anything in your life that’s ready to be released? Enjoy the brilliance of all that has ripened and come to fruition, but be willing to let go; it will pave the way for new beginnings.
4. Save for Lean Times. Even as birds and woodland creatures are enjoying the abundance of fall, they are also storing away portions of their autumn harvest and preparing for leaner times. Enjoy the blessings of the season, but remember to plan for the future.
5. Find Balance. In a world of duality, balance is key. The autumn equinox signals equal amounts of night and day, serving as a reminder to find balance in our own lives.
Autumn is a study in contrasts, and the result is a rich, multi-sensory experience. Apply these five lessons from autumn in your own life, and drink in the bounty of this inspiring time of year.
Thank You
So many of you have been so supportive of me for over 17 years! I am so blessed that I can continue to share my passion and touch your life. It means a lot to me that you know that you are very important to me, and I am incredibly grateful that our paths have crossed. I believe that now more than ever, we need to recognize the people and meaningful connections that we all have.
As always, it is my hope that you stay healthy and happy in your mind, body and spirit.
One of my most treasured aspects of Yoga is how we go about with showing up for ourselves and others. True Yoga is often overlooked in our very physical posture based lens of Yoga. In the Western world it seems that Yoga is mostly asana and very little true Yoga.
What is true yoga?
True Yoga consists of the principles and attitudes known as the Sutras. The Sutras are a collection of text that guides us to live. Ahimsa (non-violence), the first and foremost of the five yamas(restraints) described in the Yoga Sutra, entreats us to live in such a way that we cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being, including ourselves.
This is the essence of Pantajali’s non-harming Sutra known as Ahimsa.
Pausing to consider kindness (ahimsa) influences the choices you make and how you truly show up for yourself and for others. Ahimsa (pronounced “ah-heem-sah”) literally means “non-harming” or “non-violence” in Sanskrit. In it most basic level, it’s refraining from causing harm.
As we practice ahimsa in today’s modern life, there is more to this idea of non-harming than simply refraining from acts of physical violence.
We understand now that pain can be more than just physical – it can also be emotional and mental. The deepest pain we feel is often very emotional. It most often sprouts from our relationships with other human beings. It can be grief that we experience when we lose someone. Grief can also from a part of our life that meant so much to our identity. The loss of a relationship or a painful life change can bring about deep and soul-shattering pain.
When we practice ahimsa, we are thinking about how our actions could hurt others. Doing so invites us to take into consideration the potential physical, emotional, and relational consequences of our actions.
We pause to consider kindness.
Are you frustrated with the non-kind world that exists where division and opinions flood our everyday lives? The world feels sad at the lack of humanity and desperate need to be heard in what seems to be a constant “what about ME” mentality. There is exhaustion with the lack of kindness for fellow human beings.
Realizing that all we can do is change our own thoughts and actions, I am opting for kindness despite my own struggling emotions. Ahimsa is offered for the exhausted world. Together we must learn to pause, listen, see, feel and to give.
Kindness truly matters and it is the truest form of Yoga.
Just because someone carries it well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. I think that it is pretty likely that each day we hold things in our heart, and sometimes these things become incredibly heavy. But also choosing to carry grace sure lightens that load.
It was on this day that my kids lost their dad forever. It was years before that though they also lost him. I realize that he did the best he knew how to do. It wasn’t ideal by any means, but he did what he knew. And that is okay.
I choose grace.
I choose to hold my head up high. Looking at my grown kids I know that the load I have carried for years was worth every single ounce. My kids are remarkable people and that makes the load all worthwhile.
Someone recently asked me how I got to the point in my process of being able to choose to forgive. And to let go. Well let me first say it wasn’t always easy and there are still times when those feelings of anger or disappoint bubble up, but I try really hard to not allow those heavy feelings to take over. I did a couple years of therapy and I dove into working on myself which invited me to not spend my waking hours fuming about what I didn’t get and instead look at what may have been my part in it all and to be able to learn about perspective.
Divorce takes a little bit of your heart regardless of how amicable it is.
Co-parenting may seem like a great idea, but the truth is finding common ground that works for the kids is even harder when you have two households working. It wasn’t many months after my divorce and my three little kids and I were no longer receiving child support. He didn’t think he needed to and so he chose not to. He also chose to have his visits with the kids shorter and few and far between. The raising of the kids landed solely on my shoulders. It wasn’t just the daily grind, but the big picture things that one parent should never be completely responsible for if the other parent is capable. Or so I used to think.
Maybe he wasn’t capable. Maybe he had no idea how to think beyond himself. Maybe his own heart was shattered and he couldn’t access the part of himself to step up. Who knows.
Within a few years he began to slip into a slow, horrific self-inflicted slow death. He chose to neglect himself. He chose horrible things to do to his body. He chose to give up. Or so I used to think.
Maybe he didn’t know how. Maybe he had something inside him preventing him to get and allow help. Maybe he just couldn’t.
I think about my own father in much the same way. Something in him was missing and he wasn’t able to to plug into being a part of my life. Maybe it was his own addiction or his own beliefs that he had. Maybe he never had a father step up in his own childhood. Maybe he didn’t know how.
When someone asks me how I arrived in a place of peace about my kid’s dad (or my own dad), my simplest answer is that I got tired of allowing all of that pain to take up residence in my heart and preventing me from allowing something much better into my heart, like love. I realized that they both probably never had a father that stuck around. I was able to step back and see that my former husband was a young man with a tremendous amount of responsibility and perhaps he simply could not do it. He was giving all he had to his little family that eventually crumbled in front of him, and maybe it broke him.
I chose to see my father as a lost little boy who had no real father to speak of and an abusive mom. No wonder he was disconnected.
I replaced the feelings of anger and disappointment with compassion and love. Then it was really simple to carry on with a little lighter load in my heart. Being able to do that certainly doesn’t lighten the heaviness of raising three people alone and the huge responsibility that I had, but somehow having a heart full of compassion rather than pain, I was able to move forward and feel good about myself and my kids.
Worthiness is such a tricky beast. It seems this most everyone has at one point struggling with feeling worthy.
Have you?
Have you ever felt so uncomfortable in your skin you avoided really ever looking at yourself in the mirror?
Have you ever been so insecure that the thought of being visible scared you?
Have you ever said things to yourself that you would never say about another person?
Have you ever longed to find out why some people just seem to radiate happiness?
Have you ever been so miserable with your health that it felt like you’d never be any different?
Have you ever had so much bottled up emotion that numbing it was your only option?
Have you ever wondered what you are on this Earth to do?
Have you ever listened the quiet inner voice of yourself BEGGING to be let out?
Me too, friend. Me too.
What if I told you that I used to be an angry, bitter, lonely, extremely heavy (in mind, body AND spirit) person that could not be alone with herself for five minutes without some serious negative self-talk? What if I told you I lost over 100 pounds by changing my mindset about myself? What if I told you that I thought the only reason I was born was to struggle and raise my kids? What if I told you that I have been exactly where you are?
What if I told you I learned how to value ME?
Now, what if I told you I could give you some systematic choices and alternatives that are life sustaining and could possibly change all of your answers to the above questions? What if I was in your corner WITH you as you bravely began to navigate across new territory? What if I held the map for you as you take the first few steps? What if I was in your corner to cheer you on and encourage you to live your best self?
Are you ready?
People will drop over $100 per month on lattes and hundreds more on drinking and eating out, yet not want to spend $80 on a gym membership, or hundreds on therapy or a coaching program.
And then they wonder why they don’t feel good or aren’t reaching their goals.
People spend hours scrolling on their phones or watching Netflix and but don’t have enough time to read, meditate or go for a walk.
Your actions show where your priorities are, not your thoughts and ideas.
If you’re having a difficult time making changes to your health, happiness, relationships, business, whatever, take a look at what you’re investing in. Not just with your money, but your energy, time and/or attention.
The more you give to yourself, the more you’ll get back. You deserve to have everything you desire and nobody else is gonna give it to you but YOU.
If you’re worried about the price of getting started, you should see the cost of staying exactly where you are.
We are in the last few months of 2021 and I am offering this package that is worth well over $500 for a deep discount of just $325. Time is limited to grab this deal. This bundle also makes an amazing gift.
The awesome thing about this program is some of the content is yours to keep and return to over and over.
Two private yoga sessions ($80.00)
Assessment and Personalized Wellness plan ($125.00)
I noticed this morning the beginning stages of the leaves letting go and I was reminded that the beautiful colors are a sign that some amazing growth is coming to the end of a cycle. This is also time when we ourselves also enter into a cycle of letting go. No longer striving to be bountiful, a softness enters out hearts and intentions, and we have the opportunity to shed, to fall away, and to take time to prepare the moments of soon to be rejuvenation and rest.
I looked at my life and considered that I too am experiencing my own seasonal change. I mean the reality is the few years have been incredibly disorienting for so many, including myself. The constant pull and push of emotions and uncertainty have been really hard to keep a grasp on. The division and attempt to stay steady has been exhausting.
Although perhaps it is that this seasonal shedding is that I am seeing what no longer serves me personally and professionally, and what I have carried through perhaps too many seasons. I believe at the heart of these metamorphic transitions– whether subtle or bold–we hold the key to the life we deserve and are destined to live.
As my feet plodded along the rocky trail and while I took in the presence of Life in my moments of reflection, my heart centered prayers easily flowed.
May I find within my shadow what needs to be shed and allow it to shed.
May I have the grace to loosen my grip on the aspects of my daily life that impede my peace.
May I find the forgiveness for others that I wish upon for myself.
May I let go of what is holding me back and keeping me from what I am worth.
May I be the light that I am and not hide in the dark corners of life.
May I release the old to make room for the new.
May I find the clarity to embrace what is and let go of what was.
May I surrender, and in doing that, be free.
May I remain beautiful in the process of letting go.
The Autumn Equinox is a time of letting go and harvesting the good that is abundant in our lives. To allow the stalks and leaves to fall aside and go back to the Earth. With this beautiful and colorful season emerging it is our time to loosen our grip on the focus of growth and prepare to move into a more dormant season.
Autumn Equinox and cycles
This is also a great time to look at the cycles of life; seasons, months, breath, and even life. As we embrace the time of gathering our harvest we are also preparing ourselves for the cycle in which we become more hunkered down. A little more in hibernation mode. The paradox of understanding cycles exists everywhere.
The simplest observation is the breath; to inhale you must also exhale.
When we are awake we come to know that with each ending there is a beginning in whatever shape that takes; self awareness, growth, wisdom, letting go, forgiveness and grief. If we pay attention, we can see this so easily in the changing of leaves. The amazing color that emerges following a season of bounty. Then the ease in which the leaf lets go. Watch as leaves effortlessly fall to the ground. They are taken into the loving arms of Mother Earth for the new growth that waits for the next season.
Take time to look at letting go of what no longer serves you.
At the autumn equinox there is a dynamic shift. The season of sunshine, growth, taking action, movement to a more quiet and still season. This time of year during the equinox is a powerful time to pause after the often chaotic energy of summer. Back to school and busy-ness to a more dormant and contemplative time.
This is time where we replenish, regenerate and recuperate from a season of push.
Well, at least we should try to as the we are so in tune with nature and the natural rhythms of the world, if we are paying attention. Nature responds to the lessening hours of daylight by slowly fading into dormancy. Watch as the leaves fall from trees, the lush green of shrubs and vegetation fades, and animals forage and gather for a season of hibernation. How do we mimic these natural occurrences? We withdraw from the rush of outward action to a season of a more contemplative inner reflection of our spirit.
With this season also comes a wonderful reminder to gather your harvests and share with others and to celebrate the abundance of the world with your neighbors, your family, or even a stranger. We tend to want to hang on to “things”, both tangible and intangible and really all that does is is exhaust us and stop the flow of goodness.
During a yoga practice watch as you move in and out of balance and neutral. How your breath becomes rapid and slow, though we strive for equality of breath. Notice how the tension in our body is often paired with ease. Thoughts come and thoughts go.
The skills that we learn on the yoga to find neutral, equanimity, and harmony teach us the gift of following the rhythm of nature. Remember, our time on the mat is truly a practice for living yoga as we know that yoga really happens off the mat.
Our practice this time of year should reflect the message of the equinox and allow it to be filled with times of pausing to gather your breath, to reflect in mountain pose with a sense of neutrality and to find the balance between dynamic postures and stillness.
Welcome the harvest that is within and always look for opportunities to be grateful.
I know for myself, the practice of gratitude has lead me into a life of awareness that has enhanced my life everyday.
For kids, cut the amount of essential oils in half!
If you’re curious about how easy it is to add essential oils into your life, check out this gorgeous ebook. I also have a great community of learning and mentoring.
