Yoga news from the Season…
Welcome to the Late Summer Newsletter!
Hello lovely people…
Welcome!
According to the Chinese 5 Elements, Late Summer is the time of the EARTH Element. This season is like a pause between the YANG seasons of Spring and Summer, and the YIN seasons of Autumn and Winter…A time for gathering strength and energy ready for the cooler months, and for reflecting with satisfaction on the months just gone by.
Earth energy is very balanced, grounded, nourished and centred, with solid roots and emotional stability; in our Late Summer Yoga practice we aim to embody these qualities.
It’s my honour to share these wonderful practices with you.
Love and Light
Rachel
The organs of Late Summer:
In the Chinese 5 Element System, each element is associated with a pair of organs (1 Yin and 1 Yang). The Earth element’s organs are the Stomach and Spleen, with the Pancreas as part of the group, but not having meridians of its own.
In Chinese Medicine these organs are considered to be the main organs of digestion, although in Western medicine the Spleen is more associated with the Immune system. Because this approach works on all levels, their functions are also about us digesting and processing ideas, thoughts and emotions, as well as nutrients.
When the Earth element and Stomach/Spleen energy in our bodies/minds/emotions are balanced, we feel relaxed, adaptable and grounded., with steady emotions. Our food intake is balanced, as is our approach to work. We have a strong but not over-bearing sense of self.
If this element is out of balance, we may experience fatigue, weak digestion of all kinds, excess weight or eating disorders, low self-esteem.
The emotion associated with out of balance Earth energy is WORRY or over-thinking. Think about how worry is often associated with digestive upsets!
To nourish our Earth element we can optimise our digestion by:
- Eating our main meal when the Stomach/Spleen energy is at its highest – which is 7-11am (so no skipping breakfast!)
- Chewing our food properly (digestion starts in the mouth)
- Eating in an unhurried way in a calm & relaxed atmosphere
- Avoiding refined sugars which cause “dampness” in the body (and overtax the pancreas)
- Not drinking with our meals, as this dilutes our digestive juices.
- As the weather cools a little, starting to eat fewer salads and raw food.
What do we mean by “refined” sugars?
We mean sugars which are processed, nutrient-poor and found in foods such as sweets, biscuits, cakes, jams, ice-creams, jellies and many soft drinks. Loosely speaking white carbohydrates are also sometimes described as refined sugars – these include white rice, bread and pasta, all of which have a similar effect on your “blood sugar” levels and are also highly processed.
Other Ways to support your Earth Element
- Go out for regular slow walks – get your bare feet on the earth!
- Sit and read or study something new – a good time to digest information
- Plan nourishing meals made with seasonal foods – naturally sweet foods such as millet, sweet potatoes, carrots or squashes are especially indicated, and have a grounding effect on the energy.
- Exercise regularly to keep your lymphatic system moving (important for immunity)
If you feel light-headed, agitated or unsettled lay down on the ground, facing the Earth, rest your forehead on your arms and breathe. Allow the Earth to support you for a few minutes before slowly rising. If you can do this outdoors, it’s even better
AHIMSA YOGA NEWS
Yin Yoga on Zoom
Be Yinspired! Calming, relaxing, soothing…Everyone needs a little Yin time…
My Yin Yoga class continues to run on Zoom – it’s now every other month on a Wednesday evening at 7pm.
The remaining classes of 2025 are on 24 September and 26 November.
Come and join us! – Just message me for a link.
Course News
Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training Course
We are delighted to say that our third cohort of SYTT students have finished their year long journey with us and graduated in August.
They’re a lovely group and we can’t wait to see where the journey takes them.
We have another group set to start in October…but as I write there are still spaces on the course, so if you’re feeling called to join us, please make contact ASAP!.
The course is licensed by Seasonal Yoga in Glasgow and runs 1 weekend per month over 12 months.
It’s suitable for those looking to really deepen their personal knowledge and practice even if they have no desire to teach; as well as those who feel in their bones they want to share these wonderful teachings with others 😊
Find out more about this 200-hour Yoga Alliance accredited course by going to my TT course page.
Seasonal Yoga Five Elements Foundation Course
We’ve just completed running this course after a gap of a couple of years. We had a lovely group of very open, honest and supportive yogis to join us for this mini journey into the elements.
We plan to run the course again starting next year – 2026…See Foundation page
This course runs across 5/6 months, 2 half day weekends per month and is aimed at those who want to learn more about the Five Elements, Seasonal Yoga, breath work and meditation as well as home health habits with a view to establishing these practices at home.
You do not have to have previous yoga experience to do this course, but we will be aiming to empower you to establish your own personal practice.
Note this course is aimed at personal development and is not a Teacher Training course. You are not certified to teach after taking it.
If you’d like to join us next year, please speak to me ASAP.
Teaching on the course will be from me, assisted by the lovely Melissa Campbell.
“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”
TKV Desikachar