“In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat; there is only movement.”
-Paulo Coelho
I am in the spring of my cycle in the autumn of the year in the summer of my life. What does that mean? Mamas are cyclical beings! The menstrual cycle is one way we can experience seasonal changes as we ride the hormonal fluctuations. If you’re not familiar with this concept, visit this post by Sjane Hugo Wurlitzer on the seasons of the menstrual cycle. According to this framework, I am in the spring of my cycle.
That’s what’s going on within me, but all around me, it’s autumn here in Chicago. With cooler, drier air, leaves falling, and shorter days, my body asks for different things: to slow down, eat warmer food, and get more grounded as I turn my focus more inward. Even if you live in a warmer climate, it can be helpful to observe the energy of Autumn, whether it’s a more temperate version where you live, or perhaps in the more internalized form through your menstrual cycle or in your phase of life (though many of you reading my posts are most likely are in the summer of your life, raising small children).
I am in the summer of my life at age 41, though some at my age might be entering the autumn of theirs. But my children are small and so that gives it a vibe of summer: long days, full and often hectic, and I still have a high drive towards developing my work. What about you?
I ask because the way we approach our yoga practice has so much to do with these overlapping cycles. In the summer we might have more energy and feel up to a more vigorous practice while in the winter we feel more drawn to restorative yoga. Or, maybe it’s the opposite for you: it could be that the heat of summer saps your energy and you prefer a slower yoga practice while in the winter, a dynamic vinyasa practice warms your body.
The point is, when we pay attention to these cycles, and how we experience them in our bodies and minds, then we can craft a yoga practice that makes sense for us. Before I had kids, I taught in gyms all over San Francisco and a large number of my students were retired. Why? Probably because they had more time for practice. If you are at the same stage of life as me, you might have anywhere from 5-15 minutes to practice on any typical day. Forget going to the gym or yoga center — practice happens at home, often spontaneously, or not at all!
On the new moon, a time of setting intentions and new beginnings, I think of these colliding cycles and how they can help me practice yoga that’s right for this moment. The new moon can be thought of as similar to the dark depths of winter and as the moon waxes, that growing light coincides with the rising energy of spring. Do you see that correlation? Often on the new moon, even though it is a time of new beginnings, I tend toward practices that invite me to spiral my attention inward so that I can sort of plant the seed of my intentions. Before any beginning, there’s a moment when the idea of that beginning is conceived.
The challenge is, which ideas are most helpful and which are just the disguised opinions and pressure from others, parading as truth? It’s easy to try to reason through the process of deciding while ignoring what feels right to you, if only you had the clarity to hear what your body and heart were saying.
When I get to a point of indecision, there’s one practice I love: yoga nidra. It’s a really nice practice for resting when you’re tired, and that includes when you’re tired from decision fatigue. Here’s the link to one of my favorite sites that offers free yoga nidra recordings. Check it out and give yourself a moment to rest and maybe you’ll be able to come up with a sankalpa to guide you through the days to come. That’s a topic for the next new moon:)
As a bonus, here’s my post from the first new moon of 2021, because sometimes it can be so interesting to look back…
Happy new moon!