Helena is a yoga teacher with over 23 years’ experience (E-RYT500, YACEP, officially certified in Spain). She is also trained in a wide range of massage techniques and natural therapies, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, aromatherapy, crystal therapy, Reiki, Bach flower remedies, forest bathing, etc. You can find out more about her here: www.helenachacon.com

Available until 20 July

🍂 AUTUMN TIPS We’re still in autumn, although we’re gradually transitioning into winter. In TCM, this cold, biting season is associated with the METAL element. What does this mean? It means that the qualities and characteristics of this element become more prominent in nature, both within and around us. To avoid becoming unbalanced, we should bear in mind a few guidelines 🙏 ▪ The ORGANS associated with Metal are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. Consequently, our respiratory and excretory systems are at their most vulnerable during this season. It is advisable to look after the Lungs with herbal teas made from eucalyptus, oregano, thyme, etc., and to carry out cleansing practices such as Jala Basti for the Large Intestine. Furthermore, Metal has a considerable influence on the skin, which will feel particularly dry at this time of year, so don’t forget to moisturise it, and on the immune system (Wei Qi), which needs to be strengthened through healthy lifestyle habits or herbal remedies (e.g. echinacea). ▪ On an EMOTIONAL level, the emotion associated with Metal is Sadness. We could say that Metal draws us inwards and makes us turn in on ourselves (it has more Yin than Yang), and this gives rise to cold emotions. Sadness can manifest in various ways. When our Lung is weakened, we’ll feel melancholy, insecurity, an inability to set boundaries, guilt and shame. When our Metal is elevated, we’ll experience the unhappiness of sadness through perfectionism, inflexibility, a harsh and arrogant temperament, or dogmatism. So, during this season, we tend to swing between these extremes depending on our own nature and lifestyle habits. The best way to counteract this is by following the cycle of the Elements. If your Metal is deficient, nourish it with its mother, the Earth element, by spending more time at home with your family, cooking, visiting friends, etc. If your Metal is in excess, you can reduce its sharp, cutting tendency by engaging in Fire activities such as laughing, dancing, sitting by a bonfire, etc. ▪ The expression is CRYING. This is how our Lungs release excess dampness and Qi from the lungs. Crying is healing, but bear in mind that it does not always result from a Metal imbalance. Let it out when you feel tension building up in your chest and remain mindful of what you feel whilst you’re crying. ▪ The mental aspect of Metal is called PO and encompasses functions such as detachment, giving and receiving, forgiveness, justice, control, rituals and order. In this regard, there are several things you can put into practice to bring the corporeal soul, or Po, to the fore: - DETACHMENT is the quality that most people readily recognise in autumn. It is very easy to understand this by observing how trees let go of their leaves as they prepare for the most Yin season of the year, winter. So take stock of which issues, people or things need to be let go of in your life. It may seem like a minor action, but it is tremendously liberating for spending a peaceful winter. - GIVING AND RECEIVING. These actions represent the Metal element’s quest for balance. We see this in the Lung organ through breathing: receiving is the inhalation phase, giving is the exhalation phase, and so it is with many other physiological functions. On an energetic level, consider how you manage the flow of energy inwards and outwards. If you give too much, … If you receive too much and never give … - FORGIVENESS. It’s time to forgive. Yourself, others, a situation. Forgiveness is a form of detachment, of liberation. Many people do not forgive because they think that by doing so they are doing the other person a favour; in reality, when we forgive, we free ourselves. Forgive and get on with your life. - JUSTICE and CONTROL. Metal sets limits for us. There are people who prefer to live without limits, but this is not natural. In an ecological system, there are rules. Herbivores eat plants, carnivores eat the herbivores, and finally, fungi break down the matter. Each plays its part because they know their limits and act in accordance with natural laws. Metal teaches us that there is a natural justice, a control that does not depend on us and which must be respected. Observe your own life to see if you are going against your true inner justice and using control in the wrong way. Perhaps by controlling what should not be controlled and failing to set limits where they are needed. - RITUALS. It is a time for rituals, ordered actions that connect us with the sacred. Almost all spiritual disciplines have their own, but ideally you should have your own. Connect with any ritual focused on yourself (not performing rituals to get something from others) to raise your energy or Qi. It could be a sacred bath, a ritual just before your yoga or meditation session, and so on. - ORDER. Finally, another of Metal’s qualities relating to control is order. Metal feels at ease when there is order and clarity. So, get stuck in and set aside some time for your home. Give a thorough clean to cupboards you don’t usually tidy. Let go of what you no longer need. Be fair to yourself in the process. Tidy up your work tools as well. In my case, I have to go through my computer every week to organise it, make backups, delete what’s unnecessary, and so on. And finally, organise your world by putting your thoughts in order. What are your priorities? Which thoughts do you need to let go of? And so on. ▪ The FOODS favoured by the Metal element are white and moisturising, such as tofu, plant-based milks, cauliflower and rice. Dates are very comforting at this time of year. And you’ll need a dose of spicy foods such as radishes, turnips, rocket, pepper, ginger, garlic, etc. We’re talking about healthy people here. For example, if you’ve ended up with a cold featuring very yellow phlegm and a fever, your imbalance indicates an excess of heat, in which case ginger—especially dried ginger—is not recommended. In other words, your diet will adapt to your imbalance if you’re ill, so treat these dietary tips as general guidance for when we’re healthy 🙂 ▪ YOGA. You can practise a form of yoga that stretches and mobilises energy in the Metal meridians that run through the upper parts of the arms—the anterior section (Lung) and the posterior section (Large Intestine). In TCMYoga® Yin Yoga, we use Open Wings and Thread of the Needles as representative poses, respectively. In TCMYoga® Yang Yoga, we focus on a practice that specifically works on the breath by incorporating Ujjayi and other Pranayamas, and performing Asanas that focus primarily on the arms, such as hand balances or toning and dynamic arm movements. 🙏 Thank you for reading this far. If you’ve enjoyed this, why not join our: 👩‍💻 ONLINE YOGA AND TCM TRAINING, including YIN YOGA and other useful tools to balance your energy ☯️ + INFO 👉 https://cutt.ly/rRhIymO 💜 Join the TCMYoga® Universe 💜 💫 YIN YOGA 💫 ACUYOGA 💫 FASCIA/MERIDIANS 💫 💫 MIOBALL® 💫 YANG YOGA 💫 XMYOGA 💫 www.tcmyoga.org