Seasonal Flow
Late Summer: September/October
Stability
In the Late Summer our practice should establish a feeling of being grounded. We can feel ourselves pressing the brakes just a tiny bit now as we prepare for the Autumn and the Winter seasons. Late Summer is not a traditional season but more of a transition time. It is a time where we stimulate and activate the stomach and spleen meridians by accentuating our connection to the ground in a our postures. It is a time to return to the foundations of our Yoga practice by re-learning Ujjayi breath, bandha and other simple but often rushed over techniques.
September and October are a time of transitioning of the doshas also. Pitta season turns to Vata season. In all the transitions of one season to another we must take care of Vata dosha. As it is the most sensitive and mobile of the three energies it is easily aggravated. During this season if you have Vata within your prakrti change to a hydrating/building/warming diet. If you are Pitta/Kapha remain with a cooling diet.
Autumn: November/December
Alertness/Attention
During Autumn the nights are drawing in and nature is slowing down. Our yoga practice will be designed to stimulated the lung and large intesting meridians. Our yoga sequences can open and close the arms to imitate a bellows whilst stimulating the lungs and we can use our deep abdominal muscles (uddiyana bandha; agni sara; nauli) to activate and awaken our guts. It is also a time to start to gather the energy and attention inwards (pratyahara) and a quietening of our yoga practice is initiated. Focus on training the breath and sharpening and clearing the mind.
In November and December Vata dosha is active. Rest and warmth and hydration are the remedies for this season. If your prakrti is Vata/Pitta or Vata/Kapha a hydrating/building/warming diet is recommended. If your prakrti is Pitta/Kapha a drying/heating/reducing diet is best.
Winter: January/February
Sensitivity
Winter is a time to go with the flow, enjoy the journey, don’t rush, confront your fears, find stillness and strengthen your spine and bones. Learn to withdraw and replenish. Seek to gain answers from inner wisdom. Our yoga practice and sequences will be designed to open and replenish the bladder and kidney meridians which run through the back of the body. Forward bends open and stretch our back, inverted postures consolidate and rejuvinate the brain and nervous system and a repetition of postures allows their effects to travel deeper into our body. Yin Yoga is an ideal practice in Winter. Rest, renewal and rejuvination are the focus of our Winter practice. Give more time to the relaxation (savasana) and meditation within your practice. In Winter, Vata dosha is active and if not looked after vigilently it will be aggravated. Warming, resting and proper hydration are the remedies for all Winter symptoms. If your prakrti is Vata/Pitta or Vata/Kapha then a hydrating/building/warming diet is best for you. If your body type is Pitta/Kapha then a drying/heating/reducing diet is recommended.
Spring: March/April/May
Precision
The Spring season is about stretching and opening ourselves up and out of our Winter hibernation. It is a time for spring cleaning both our environment and our body by letting in the fresh air and throwing out any accumulated rubbish. Our yoga postures and sequences are designed to open the Liver and Gallbladder meridians with lots of side-bending and twists. Our yoga practice will become stronger, more challenging and work on strength and stamina making rejuvination and restoration a secondary focus for a short time. Astanga and strong Vinyasa Flows are ideal for the Spring.
Spring is the season of Kapha in Ayurveda. During the Kapha season it is important not to let this dosha accumulate by excess sleep, lack of exercise and overeating. If your prakrti (bodytype) is Pitta/Kapha or Vata/Kapha you could follow a drying/heating/reducing diet at this time of year. If your prakrti is Vata/Pitta you could follow a cooling diet at this time of year.
Summer: June/July/August
Vitality
During summer we should practice in a way that sharpens our reactions. We should use the cleansing quality of the breath to burn away the last of any stagnation within the body. It is time to keep an open heart and free circulation of the emotions. We can now live life to the full staying up later and getting up earlier. It is a time to create energy and power that carries us through our year ahead. Our yoga postures and sequences are designed to stimulate and maintain the free flow of the heart and small intestine meridians by opening the arms outwards from the heart as if just about to give a heart-felt hug! Surya Namaskaras are a wonderful Vinyasa flow for the summer season along with some more cooling Slow Vinyasa Flow Sequences. Learn to feel when the flames need fanning or quietening into the embers.
Summer is the Pitta season in Ayurveda. It is about cooling the body. Avoiding stressful routines and conflicts, eating lighter meals and socializing more. If your prakrti is Vata/Pitta or Pitta/Kapha eat a cooling diet for the summer season. If your prakrti is Vata/Kapha eat a drying/heating/lreducing diet.
