Chocolate Yoga Workshop: Indulging in Late Summer Serenity
The August New Moon heralds the arrival of the Late Summer season, which according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a transitionary season between the yang of summer and yin of winter. This interim season offers a chance to slow down, take time for self-care as we begin to draw our energy inwards while taking stock of all that we’ve achieved so far in the year. We need this buffer time to support the adjustment between seasons and to encourage us to transfer our energy and attention out of our heads and ground it down to the earth.
Soothing anxious thoughts
Worry and anxiety are the primary imbalances at this time of year. Feeling overwhelmed about not having done enough over the summer and the worry of the seasons yet to come in the year can be quite all-consuming. Worry has a way of taking over our thoughts, causing us to ruminate instead of sleep which ultimately leaves us carrying the tiredness and worry into our daytime lives too. This can become a vicious cycle, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Taking time to cultivate balance during late summer is a great way to ensure we can move smoothly between the remainder of the seasons of this year. Slowing down and acknowledging where we need to spend a bit of time on self-care is the ultimate way to embrace this transitionary season and adopt a slower pace of life.
Top Tips
- See – try a guided meditation which encourages visualisation. This helps to switch the thought processes to something other than worries and can be a soothing way to wind down before bed.
- Hear – listening to tranquil music offers another relaxing mental shift. I enjoy Classic FM in the evening to help me wind down, and it gets me away from staring at the screen before sleep.
- Touch – self-massage offers the chance to check in with the body and actively loosen off tight muscles. Try placing a tennis ball behind the upper shoulder (trapezius muscle) and lean against a wall or the floor. Don’t forget to move to the opposite shoulder too.
- Smell – aromatherapy offers a wealth of opportunities to unwind the mind and to bring about some self-care. Try adding a few drops of lavender and peppermint to a bath or even to a basin of water for a foot bath. These scents are wonderful for staving off headaches caused by ongoing stress.
- Taste – enjoy a little bit of something sweet to help soothe the nervous system. Chocolate provides a wealth of antioxidants which are great for the heart and mind. Good quality chocolate contains magnesium which is a vital mineral for encouraging a sound and restful sleep.
Making self-care a priority
All of these elements can be incorporated into your daily life or into a well-balanced yoga practice. You don’t need to do them all, chose whichever one resonates most with you and see how you get on. The aim is not to add more to your life, but to incorporate a positive activity which enhances your wellbeing in the longer term.
During my Chocolate Yoga Workshop I will be inviting all of the senses to contribute to unwinding and grounding during a dedicated yoga session. You can expect indulgent chocolate to take the mind into the present moment; carefully selected aromatherapy oils to soothe the senses and encourage softness; guided visualisation to take you out of your ruminating thoughts and into a gentler more calming space. All to the backdrop of tranquil music and accompanied by some dedicated self-massage techniques. You will leave this workshop feeling nourished from the inside out and truly ready to embrace the changing of the seasons.
