(22 min CLASS) Seasonal Living for October w/ Sophia Bouwens

This month of October is the first full Yin month of the calendar year in the Traditional Chinese 5 Element Calendar. September was the tipping point from Yang to Yin, and from here forward we are IN the Yin. Of upmost importance, is our call to refine, fall into rhythm and build routine.

ELEMENT: metal
ORGAN: lung
EMOTION: grief

The trick to come into line with this season is building rhythm, and order. The metaphor of metal is a cutting away (swords/machetes cut the crops away) for harvesting, storing and solidifying - solidifying routines to build structure to allow for rest. Use this time to come into strict alignment with order order and rhythm in your life this season. Evaluate where energy is, and where you want it to be going. Think most critically about what you are NON-doing, or rather about how you are resting, rejuvenating, and restoring. The hallmark of the transition from Yang to Yin is that we are no longer receiving the same rejuvenating power from the outside world, but that we now need to be nourishing from within. Do this by building intentional time and space in your life to move into creative and restorative mode, rather than productive mode.

The organ that corresponds to this season is the Lung organ. The lung houses our breath - an essential rhythm to our life, and a powerful tool in calming and centering ourselves. It is a small, but powerful life-force that sets the tone for us. We can use the breath in this season both to inspire us to come into alignment with rhythm, and to remember that small changes (breath sized changes) can be life-changing.

Embodiment:

Get serious about routines and rhythms; especially around rest. This is the time of the year the Nei Jing tells us to go to bed early, and wake late. Build rhythms in your life that allow you to do just that - your productivity “after hours” might not be nearly as your productivity after some rest, so allow yourself to prioritize your self, and rest. Once you wake up, build an immediate reminder into your routine to FILL YOUR CUP FIRST. Truly prioritizing being there for yourself - rushing out of bed to slowly ease into your day, in a small sustainable way will help carry you through this transition more than you realize.

Suggestions

FOODS

Bone broth
Light yellow and white foods like onions, cauliflower
Ginger
Tumeric
Pungent foods like olives, pickles, fermented greens
Root vegetables like beets and carrots
Salads with vinaigrettes
Spicy foods

ACTIVITIES

Build rhythms and routines around basic daily activities

Sleeping
Eating
Exercise
Hydration

Lots of breathwork!

MEET YOUR TEACHER

Sophia Bouwens, L.Ac, is a Neurological Acupuncturist and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor who is on a mission to help others heal and empower their nervous system and bodies. She uses a unique integration of Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Functional Neurology to produce profound effects and positive changes in brain function and body connection.

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