Here we are now, in this transitional season of autumn that falls between our social summer season and our reflective, introspective period during winter to decide what it is we wish to carry forward, and what perhaps we might like to let go.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, Autumn is associated with the element of metal, the lung and large intestine meridians, and also the skin – and this is interesting because the skin is literally the barrier between the external environment and our own internal environment. Ruling respiration, this element also involves our breath which travels in circulation from the outside world, into our body and back to the natural world via the lungs, making this element an important one to nourish within our body, in honour of our relationship with nature and this practice of “letting go – in trust” that we practice subconsciously around 20,000 times per day with each breath.

We do this in complete trust that there will be, without a question of doubt, enough oxygen to share among our fellow travellers for our next breath in as we exhale and literally let our breath go.

This trust, and non-attachment and one of yogas ethical practices that we know as “aparigraha”/non-attachment or non-clinging is one we can practice and embody when it comes to processing anything we experience, particularly the yucky, heavy, or challenging experiences, conflicts or anything that didn’t go as we expected by sitting with this idea:

“How can I allow this experience to circulate through me and complete its process now”

There are aspects of any experience that we can carry forward with us in the way of understanding and eventual wisdom, and some to let go. Not all of it is yours to take on or carry on.

Perhaps it was a projection from someone, perhaps feedback that was hard to digest (in which case you can consider through knowing yourself if that is really your truth), or perhaps the loss of something or someone.

By meeting the experience in truth and allowing ourselves the time and space to feel the fullness of our emotions we give our body permission to complete its natural process of grief or in the very least a little bit of contemplation

It is very ok to acknowledge that yes… that is not how I wanted this to be and it really hurts, and this grieving process is directly related to this season of Autumn and these organs, particularly the lungs in which we move our emotion through sobbing. How powerful.

Our body knows exactly what to do, we simply need to provide it with the space and the supportive environments to do so and the practice of Yin Yoga with its foundation in traditional Chinese medicine is a perfect expression of this time and space where you can find home within yourself for a little while allowing everything to settle and find its place.

Is there anything you wish to let go to create a little more space in your body and a little more space in your life? The intention alone is a beautiful place to start.

Author: Kelly Dalby