How to Healthily Prepare Your Body for Fall

As the summer comes to an end the days become shorter, the weather a bit cooler and in most places the wind starts rising to help the trees get rid of their old foliage.

During this season similar patterns happen for us Humans: this is an exciting time of the year that promotes change. Change is geared towards simplicity, taking time to organize ourselves and have clear judgment over what we need and what we can let go of.

We want to simplify our lifestyle, just like the trees shedding their beautiful foliage and we want to dedicate ourselves to our own projects rather than our external appearance.

Ancient remedies to cure with the seasons

In Chinese medicine, like many of the ancient healing systems there are different rituals for each season.

According to this ancient healing system the Autumn season is connected to the Air (metal) element.

The organs related to this element are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. The Lungs have a great role in deciding what we need and what we don't need and keep us spiritually connected to the Cycles of Life.

Similarly the Large Intestine has the same role in the form of retaining nutrients from food and disposing of what is toxic and not needed within the body.

During Autumn it is important to focus on strengthening and nourishing both the lungs and large intestines.

A powerful way to do this is through what we eat.

In fact as nature around us changes its energy with the seasons it will offer us foods that will give us the right nutrients and compounds to heal our organs through out the year.

For example Broccoli is a seasonal autumn vegetable and scientific research shows that it can help heal lung disorders; click here if you want to know more about this research.

Eat seasonally

As nowadays we have the luxury to be able to buy fruits and vegetables from every seasons and from different countries it becomes really hard to know what is in season and what is not.

Because of this we might be missing out on the possibility to strengthen ourselves by supporting our immune system just by eating seasonally and locally.

The latter is very important because the area where you live in provides the nutrients you need for your body to deal with cold, hot and damp according to that specific area and climate.

Each season brings the fruits and vegetables that we need, to heal, cleanse, and bring energy to the organs related to that season. For example apples are well known for many health benefit, including the effect they have on your large intestine.

By providing extra fibers the apple can re balance the large intestine and aid with elimination. 

Also I must say that the fruits we find in Autumn like pomegranates, apples, squash etc. are super rich in nutrients. They have been growing through the hottest part of summer and hence carry a lot of that warmth stored in them.

This warmth transforms into nutrients and compounds that will support your immune system now that you need it most.

So get your big pots out and start being creative in the kitchen making delicious soups to bring warmth and fluids to your bellies.

Here is a large list of foods that should not be missed for the Fall Season and there is something for every taste!

Healthy foods for Fall

• Squash

• Pumpkin

• Broccoli

• Brussels sprouts

• Cauliflower

• Cabbage

• Garlic

• Onions

• Fennel

• Autumn greens

• Arugula

• Radicchio

• Peppers

• Sweet potatoes

• Mushrooms

• Apples

• Pears

• Asian pears

• Parsley

• Persimmons

• Pomegranates

• Cranberries

• Parsnips

• Radishes

Emotions and imbalances related to Fall

In nature everything is connected...

The purpose of this article is to give you practical tips to adjust to the changes that you may go through transitioning into Autumn. This includes emotional changes.

The emotions related to the Autumn season and the Air element are of grief and sadness.

In fact in autumn the energy of the Air Element can become a little unbalanced and we often feel like we have been cut off from other people and sometimes even ourselves.

This caters to a more depressive nature and causes an inability or difficulties in receiving the rich experiences life has to offer. Because we cannot let go of our accumulated baggage we can become blocked on a mental and/or emotional level.

This can often result in feelings of bitterness, guilt, cynicism or even suspicion. Hence why it is essential to embrace the 'letting go' of the Autumn Season.

When the air element is balanced autumn results in a very exiting season where we can connect to the 'contracting' energy of this particular time of the year allowing us to reflect inwards rather than the expansion elements of Spring.

In Autumn we can embrace ourselves and simplify our diet, lifestyle and habits helping ourselves to clear what we don't need. This is a good time for us to embrace change and letting go. 

Your yoga practice during this season should include rhythmical breathing exercises and postures that helps create movements in your large intestine. This in turn will help in case of constipation or other digestive issues. 

For more specific lifestyle tips or a personalized yoga practice to help you with some of these imbalances please contact Christian at Yoga Healing Nature.