Autumn Equinox: A Time to Reflect
Fall is the season of harvesting, abundance, and prosperity. It's starting to get cold and we begin to lean into more comforting practices of self-preservation. Much like the seasons, our lives also go through cycles of growth, harvest, death, and rebirth.
Fall is the season of harvesting, abundance, and prosperity. It's starting to get cold and we begin to lean into more comforting practices of self-preservation.
Preservation and Comfort
Autumn represents the preservation of life and protection of self. Animals prepare for the Winter by storing food and creating hibernation spaces. Use this time to reconnect with yourself and realign with your values and aspirations. Autumn brings comfort. Take this time to learn about what makes you feel warm and safe.
Change
Autumn reminds us that everyone/thing is continuously changing and developing. Use this time as a reminder to value the present and savor every moment. “The only constant in life is change.” Learning how to be comfortable with that will bring great relief.
Letting Go
Autumn shows us the beauty of letting go as the leaves change colors and fall. Use this time to identify the things you’d like to let go of: negative thoughts, inner ego, stress, toxic relationships, etc.
In the Fall, we begin to set up our internal and external space to make room for what’s to come in the next year. It’s time to empty out space to allow room for new energy to cultivate and bigger visions to come up. During the Winter, we “hibernate,” relax and replenish so we can start the year fresh.
Here are some ways you can take care of yourself this Fall:
Nutrition: Due to the colder weather, we're now looking for warmer and more comforting meals. It's a great time to incorporate easy-to-make veggie-packed soups and stews (which are also easy to batch-cook for several meals). New fruits and veggies are coming into season (like apples, ginger, collard greens, pumpkins, squash, brussels sprouts, etc.) full of the nutrients and vitamins we need to boost our immunity and energy in the colder months.
Physical Activity: It's cold and it's starting to get darker at night. If this hinders your usual outdoor routine, now is a good time to look into some at-home workouts. Try something fun like an online dance class, or perhaps something a little more relaxing and comforting like yoga. If you enjoy going out in the cold, remember that cold weather makes you more susceptible to injury if you don't warm up, so remember to always incorporate a 5-10 min warm-up before any workout you do, especially if outdoors. The key to staying consistent all year round is exercise variability (aka having a list of different things you enjoy doing to choose from). So try some new things and add them to your list! The changing of the seasons is also a great time to buy a cute new workout set that'll keep you warm! Hello, ear warmers and fleece-lined tights.
Self-Care (Mind): It's a perfect time to reflect and start making room for what's to come in the new year. Reconnect with yourself and realign with your values and aspirations. What can you be doing more of that would bring you happiness? What are you grateful for this year? Fall represents change. It's a friendly reminder to value the present and savor the moment. Learning to be comfortable with change will bring great relief. This is the season when you notice leaves changing color and falling. Use this as a reminder of the things you want to let go of: negative thoughts, inner ego, stress, toxic relationships, etc. To summarize: Take some time during this season to create your vision of growth: (1) Create a safe space where you feel comfortable enough to reconnect with yourself and your dreams (2) Reflect on how much you’ve grown and changed this year, through the best and worst of times (3) Write down the things you want to let go of this upcoming year: limiting beliefs, bad habits, etc., and make room for bigger and better things to come.
Self-Care (Body): Colder months are a great time to start incorporating spa-like rituals at home such as warm baths, dry brushing, and lymphatic draining. All of these practices help promote increased blood flow throughout the body and are soothing and calming in nature. Follow that up with cozy pajamas, a hot herbal tea, a spiced candle and soothing jazz sounds in the background and your home is your own wellness retreat.
Happy Autumn Equinox!
If you’re looking for a safe space where you can learn how to let go of dieting for good, enjoy food without guilt, and turn exercise into something you love to do rather than something you “have” to do, submit a client application to get in contact with me! I work with clients virtually all over the world helping those who are frustrated with dieting and want to change their relationship with food and themselves.
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By recognizing the interdependent roles of mindset, nutrition, and movement I educate and hold my clients accountable for achieving their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care. Together, we navigate the contradictory world of nutrition through intuitive eating, practice mindful movement, and implement small mindset and lifestyle shifts that empower them to be their best selves in the easiest way possible.
