Entering the “ber” months

In a newsletter I received the other day, the writer spoke about the “ber” months. I sat with that for a bit, then realized it never occurred to me that the next few months all end in “ber.” 

I wondered if this is because of the changing season and we prepare ourselves for the “burr” that will come to us in the next few months. It's not, but it was a good way for me to start preparing for fall and the quiet these months start to prepare us for. 

I heard again, as I do every few months, “I can't do yoga because I can't touch my toes” 

It was a reminder to me that there is so much more to yoga than toe touching and stretching. Those are the asanas, or poses, but the deeper, more contemplative side of yoga is where we can all try to be participants in our own space.

We live on high alert most of our day, making decisions, getting stuck in traffic, taking care of kids or parents, finding the best way to longevity. 

But a yoga practice can help us downregulate our nervous system, helping us rest and digest. It's not just about the stretch of the body, but the stretch of the mind. 

Yoga means to Yolk - connecting the mind and the body. We can practice this yolking in the car, in the grocery store, in our kitchens. 

A few ways to support our minds and bodies: 

~ Tell your body to soften. You don’t have to be on high alert right now.

~Begin to lengthen your exhale. Don't make it a struggle; just sip air in and let the air go. 

~Sit with your thoughts, let your mind wander, and see what comes up. We often forget to take time to turn inward.

~Stop fixing and start listening more. We often want to fix a problem for ourselves or others, but take time to listen or journal about a problem and see what happens when you don't try to fix it.

When we tune in to our mind and body, we can find the winter in our soul, and just maybe our hamstrings let go a bit.