TAOIST AUTUMN - METAL ELEMENT

Autumn...

Even though some days are still hot, we see the first signs of fall in crispy evenings, cool nights, and golden-orange tones of leaves.
Taoist Autumn is the time when Metal element is dominating - nature is diminishing its activities and preparing for the winter rest.

Among the gifts of Metal we may find:

• acceptance
• non-attachment
• acknowledgement
• distillation
• balance
• spaciousness

And during long fall evenings we can reflect on how these gifts manifest inside us. Try asking yourself the following questions:

• What things are difficult to accept to me? What prevents me from accepting all things as they are?
• What things or ideas am I attached to? Do these attachments limit my ability to be in a present moment?
• To what extent do I need outside recognition? How easy is it to me to acknowledge others?
• Can I accept and embrace negative experiences to make them valuable lessons for the future? Do I just suffer, or do I learn and improve my life?
• Am I balanced between my body and spirit? If not, why do I feel stronger connection with one of them? How could I embrace the other one?
• Do I have enough space in my home or is it cluttered with objects? What can I do to encourage the flow of energy in the place I live in?

If we feel that our Metal element needs support, we can do it by:

• adding white elements to our outfits and surroundings
• eating white fruit and vegetables, using pungent herbs and spices
• performing pranayama and Metal meditation
• adding Metal supporting poses to our yoga practice

Metal element meditation:

Stand up and wrap your hands around a big, metal object. Keep your body contracted. Breathe in, make a pause, breathe out, make a pause. Continue breathing in this way. Concentrate on the metal object in your hands and feel the metal qualities moving from it to your body. Feel your body becoming dense, strong and hard. When you are ready, let the Metal leave your body and return to the object in your hands. Start breathing in a natural way. Shake off all the stiffness from your limbs. Make a few circular movements with your head and torso.

Metal supporting restorative poses (relieving grief):

• child's pose
• sukhasana (easy pose) forward fold
• janu sirsasana (head to knee pose)
• pascimottasana (sitting forward fold pose)
• supported fish pose
• reclined bound angle pose

Metal yin (taoist) poses:

• metal triangle
• half metal triangle
• coat hanger
• zombie
• penguin
• crab
• spider

If you are looking for yoga in English in Budapest, feel free to contact me!
My AUM Jogakozpont studio schedule is here (bottom of the page).