Why do some activities make you feel better than others? According to TCM, one of the reasons is that certain fall activities help you find harmony with the seasons’ energy. When you’re able to channel the gifts of the natural world, all parts of your being are elevated.
During fall, nature embodies the qualities of transformation and letting go of the past. It’s a time for deep reflection and finding clarity for the future. Therefore, in this blog, we’re sharing five fall activities that can help you experience these gifts in your own life.
1. Hike in Nature
By attuning your senses to the world around you, you can absorb the powerful lessons that the season teaches.
When you step onto the trail, try to pay attention to the sights and sounds around you. Perhaps, you’ll notice the vibrant orange and yellow foliage that blankets the trees above you. Or, maybe you’ll find that the ground is covered with brown leaves that crunch beneath your feet. These are clear signs that the world is undergoing the process of transformation.
As you hike, let the energy of nature permeate your being. To do this, simply imagine the rich, nourishing energy of the forest absorbing into your body like water into a sponge. As it flows through you, feel it invigorating your body and uplifting your mind.
This feeling may happen naturally without even trying, which is why most people feel drawn to spending time in nature. However, when you focus your attention on this channeling process, the positive effects of nature are magnified. The physical exercise of hiking can also help boost your immune system and elevate your Qi.
2. Journal About What You Want to Let Go Of
This activity can easily be combined with hiking. Simply take your journal with you and find a nice place in nature for a little journaling session. There are many ways to go about journaling, but Lee suggests following a certain process when you’re trying to channel the lessons of fall.
To start your journaling practice, try to think of anything that you want to let go of. This can include letting go of things outside of yourself, or internal baggage that you’re ready to release. Certain behaviors, habits, fall activities, and thought patterns can all be things you may want to let go of.
Once you’ve finished listing the things you want to let go of, turn the page and start writing down what you want to experience in your life. These are the things that you want to replace with what you let go of. For example, if you decide that you want to release a self-defeating thought pattern, perhaps you can decide to replace it with thoughts that are empowering and elevate your Qi. Of course, there are countless things you may want to let go of and cultivate, so just write down whatever feels true to you.
3. Do a Breathing Practice
The season of fall is associated with the Metal Element and the lungs. In TCM, the lungs are an important organ for releasing old energy in the body, which happens naturally when you breathe. Specifically, old energy is released when you exhale.
To let go of old or stagnant energy, breathe in and out slowly through your nose. Count to four on your inhale and count to eight on your exhale so your exhale is longer than your inhale. As you exhale, imagine letting go of anything you’re ready to release.
You can combine this simple breathing exercise with the journaling practice above. This will “supercharge” your process of letting go of old energy and creating space for what you want in your life. If you’d like, you can go through the list of things you want to let go of and do a big breath for each to energetically release them from your body.
While it’s great to dedicate some time for this breathing practice, it’s also something you can do throughout your day whenever you want to let go of unpleasant thoughts or stress that creeps up.
4. Get a Massage
Massages are great for removing internal blockages and opening up the meridian pathways in your body. When energy can move freely, it’s much easier to let go of tension and tightness and experience deep transformation. This can include physical, mental, and emotional transformation.
If you’re able to get a massage that includes acupressure, that’s excellent! However, any good massage should help open your meridian pathways and help you circulate Qi.
5. Do Qi Gong
Qi Gong is a powerful way to connect with nature and channel the seasons’ energies. If you’re interested in learning Qi Gong practices that are specifically designed to help you harness the gifts of fall, be sure to check out our on-demand Qi Gong for Fall Workshop.
In the Qi Gong for Fall Workshop, Lee guides you through Qi Gong practices that help you let go of old energy and cultivate the qualities you want to experience in your life. These exercises also focus on boosting your Metal Element and Lung Qi, which helps elevate your immune system in preparation for winter.
Because this is a pre-recorded workshop, you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own home whenever you want. Click on the banner below to learn more about how Qi Gong can help you feel your best this fall.