When October begins, it truly feels like Autumn for me. There's something about this month that triggers a deep shift within to inspire the energy of letting go. In this morning's class I mentioned the saying, "In order to grow, you have to let go." Much like trees that shed their leaves to make space for new growth in the Spring season, we also as creatures of this planet, have the opportunity to embrace this release - letting go of things that no longer serve.

Practices can range from elaborate to simple, and today I'll be focusing on the latter. Each day this season, do the following 3 small but effective practices, to help encourage release within your physical, mental and emotional space. By committing to these practices daily, you form a new habit that can have long-lasting effects.

Ginger tea - 5 minutes

Make the tea from scratch instead of using teabags, so that you have the benefit of fresh ingredients. A simple ginger tea is wonderfully detoxifying and can help support your digestive system. Add some fresh ginger to boiling water and let it sit for a couple of minutes to infuse. Add a small lemon slice, and to balance the fieriness of the ginger, you may want to add a little honey or maple syrup.

As a bonus practice, enjoy your tea in a space of quiet and calm. Try not to fill your time by starting another activity. Give yourself a few minutes of space to be, just you and your tea.

Mindful breathing meditation - 3 minutes

This is a practice I recommend throughout the whole year. However, there is particular significance when doing it during the Autumn season. By mindfully connecting with your breath, you're redirecting your mind into quiet contemplation and focus. It helps to change mental patterns, moving them away from the incessant noisy thought loop that continuously plays. These patterns are encouraged to shift and, eventually, you can become aware of those that no longer serve, and let them go.

This is a very powerful practice that deserves an entire blog post on its own. For now, I encourage you to start with my 3-minute mindful breathing meditation below:

Affirmation practice - 3 minutes

Although saying affirmations starts in the mind, the effect can move deeply into your emotional space. To encourage emotional release this season, take a post-it note and write down a simple affirmation of something that you wish to let go of. Place it somewhere that you'll see it - by the bed can be beneficial so that you start your day with saying your affirmation. Repeat it 3 times and take your time with it, try not to rush.

Examples could be:
"I let go of anger and move forward with peace"
"I release the past and embrace now"
"I release control and accept whatever may be"
"I let go of self-criticism and embrace self-love"
"I exhale worry and breathe in peace"
"I release high expectations of myself and embrace doing my best"

These are just suggestions. Use the above as templates if you like, change the words, and make it an affirmation that truly resonates with you.

Although I've separated the physical, mental and emotional, these three spaces overlap. There's a fine line between where one space ends and another begins, as they influence each other constantly.

I've suggested an amount of time but do each practice for however long you like. As always, find a way with it that suits YOU.

I hope you find this helpful.

Much love,

Claire