Sort and Release
Cultivating Courage, Confidence and Clarity
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The Equinox on 23rd September signalled the end of Late Summer and the start of Autumn and the yin time of the year here in the northern hemisphere.
Over this year I’ve written about the organs associated with Spring, Summer and Late Summer and their energetic qualities in Chinese medicine. I also shared Spring, Summer and Late Summer themed yin yoga practices for paid subscribers here, here and here.
Autumn is the season of the Metal element, the Lungs (yin organ) and the Large Intestine (yang organ).
Known as ‘The Prime Minister’, the Lungs are responsible for the body’s foundation of Qi (energy).
The Lungs relate to our ability to take in, sort and release what we do not need.
Working in partnership with the Large Intestine, the Lungs take in fresh air (absorbing Qi from the sky), supplying us with the oxygen we need and expelling the carbon dioxide we don’t, while the Large Intestine helps to release waste from the food we consume.
Courage, Fight-Flight-Freeze and the Lungs
The autonomic nervous system (comprised of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric systems) runs the processes in our bodies that happen automatically (and that consequently, we tend to take for granted) such as breathing and the regulation of our heart beats.
The Po - one of the five spirits in Chinese medicine - is the spirit of the Lungs and Metal. The subject of the five spirits is vast (I mention the Hun, another of the five spirits here), so here’s just a tiny bit about the Po:
The breath and the Po are inextricably linked and the Lungs, via our breathing, run the autonomic nervous system.
The Po supports us in being able to ‘be’ in the present moment with the breath as its vehicle.
When the Po is unbalanced or weak we may be more prone to being easily triggered, defensive, dwelling in negativity, becoming withdrawn, feelings of deep sadness and unresolved grief, a sense of never having enough (constantly reaching, grabbing) lethargy and possibly even ongoing respiratory issues.
When the Po is balanced and supported we’re more likely to have clarity of mind and -with courage - be more able to healthily process grief, face our fears and inner-demons, and confront shame and our mortality.
“Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage means we face our fears.”
- Maya Angelou
Grief and the Lungs
The primary emotion associated with Autumn, the Lungs, Large Intestine and Metal is grief. Weak Lung Qi can manifest as an inability to process and express grief.
Imbalanced Lung and Large Intestine Qi can also look like low immunity, respiratory problems, colds, acne, muddled thoughts and difficulty in expressing emotions. An imbalance of Metal element meanwhile can show up as being unable to recognise our gifts.
The qualities of Metal include courage, confidence and clarity.
When in balance we can feel more present, optimistic and open as well as having more courage to face life’s ups and downs from a place of acceptance.
During this Autumn season, tune into nature’s rhythms and contemplate ways you can release what you no longer need.
Allow yourself the space to cut through what is unimportant and get clear on what is most meaningful in your life now.
Here are a few tips for supporting Lung and Large Intestine Qi during Autumn:
SWAP COLD FOR HOT: Last month, I mentioned that it’s normal to notice yourself craving more warming foods like soups. Now is definitely time to put the ice cold foods and drinks to one side and be kind to your digestion by prioritising the warm and hot.
SOOTHE THE STRESS RESPONSE: Clearing out old negativity will make space for you to take in new things that will serve you well. One way to start this process is to gift yourself time each day to breathe consciously.
Try this Box Breathing practice which has been shown to reduce the physical symptoms of stress among a number of other benefits. This is one of a number of breathing practices I share in here.
Visualising a box, begin at the bottom left-hand corner
Inhale slowly for 4 counts – up the left side of the box
Hold for 4 counts – across the top of the box
Exhale slowly for four counts – down the right side of the box
Hold for 4 counts – across the bottom of the box
Repeat this three to four times or longer if needed.
OPEN WING POSE: In this short video I show how to get into Open Wing, with a couple of variations. You’ll find full written instructions under the video too.
Yoga is one of a number of ways to support the Po.
Here are some upcoming opportunities to practice yin yoga, restorative yoga, hatha flow and meditation practices with me:
ONLINE:
In the October edition of The Reset, here on Substack, I’ll be sharing a Lung and Large Intestine yin yoga class for paid subscribers. The Reset is one of my regular monthly offerings for my closed Substack community.
Mindwalk Yoga: on-demand practices with all the wonderful Mindwalk Yoga teachers. Classes from me include restorative yoga, gentle flows, yoga for menopause and more here.
EkhartYoga: Slow Flow for Energy – my latest on-demand class with EkhartYoga is available here. A tiny preview below:
IN-PERSON:
Rest + Restore on Friday 13th October 7-8.30pm BST at Embody Wellness. Details via the Embody workshops & events page here.
Hatha Flow (in-person and streamed via Zoom), Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am BST at Yoga Point Brixton. Book your place here.
The Rest Sessions – A Rest + Calm Mini-Retreat on Saturday 25th November 2.30-4.45pm GMT at Yoga Point Brixton. Find full details and book your place here.
Over to you:
Just as the Lungs and Large Intestine play key roles in elimination – letting go of what the body does not require – letting go is the energy of the Autumn season.
As the trees around us shed their leaves, now is an ideal time to ask yourself the question:
What am I ready to shed?
Allow yourself free-write on this for a few minutes.