Hello and welcome back to #FabulousFriday! There is a special beauty in the fall season and the warmth of home. Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote-“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
Moreover, there is a great deal of wisdom to be found in the fading beauty of autumn. In spring the newly formed leaf contains within itself the blueprint that prompts it to fall from the tree in autumn. The tree knows that to survive the dark, cold winter months--they must learn to conserve their energy. Many are familiar with the yoga pose, commonly known as "tree". Tree pose, also known as Vrksasana, is a standing pose in yoga that requires balance and coordination.
Just as trees let go of their leaves, fall is a time to contemplate letting go of things that no longer serve us. The last few years have been a time of uncertainty and this year's real estate market has been filled with many moments of anxiousness. The rising interest rates, the economy, and the lack of inventory has been disheartening to many. As autumn arrives many of us wish to let go of fear, disappointment and loss. A mindfulness practice, like yoga, reminds us that the first steps of letting go, is to allow ourselves to fully experience the emotions that we are wishing to let go of. Along the lines of...what we resist tends to persist. If we can allow ourselves the freedom to simply experience the emotions we wish to let go of and connect with the information they provide to us...healing begins. However, if we attempt to bypass this stage of feeling what we are feeling, then letting go instead becomes pushing away. What we attempt to push away has a tendency to entangle us and leaves us inhibited by a cycle of persistent, unwanted thoughts and emotions.
As we approach the autumn equinox there is a shift of emphasis from sun to moon, light to dark, action to contemplation, growth to dormancy, and movement to stillness. Now is a good time to pause after the frenetic activity of summer and consider how to recuperate, regenerate and replenish your energy this autumn. You can begin by practicing tree pose at home. Begin by standing with your feet together, or hip width distance apart. Spread your toes and lift your inner arches. Distribute your weight evenly between the right and left sides of your body. Settle your feet into the floor as if you were sending down roots. Then, shift your weight into your left leg. Press down with the root of your big toe and your outer heel. Externally rotate your right leg and place the sole of your right foot on your inner left leg, above or below the knee (but not on the knee). Level your hips. When you feel steady reach your arms up overhead hands parallel to each other. Relax your shoulders away from your ears. Imagine yourself fully grounded and sense the calm rooted presence from practicing this asana. Breathe slowly and quietly. If your eyes harden or wander or your mind is agitated your balance will waiver. Be easy. Observe your mind and breath. Then repeat on the opposite side.
This pose may reveal previously unacknowledged distractions. In the midst of them, can you draw stability from your practice? Benefits of tree pose include improved balance in the legs, feet and pelvis. Be sure to practice this pose when life makes you feel off balance.Some quiet questions to contemplate: In what way would letting go of physical clutter improve the quality of life for me and those closest to me? What do I wish to let go of at this time? What is important to me? What do I need to let go of in order to prioritize the things that I value most in life?
At Shaffer Realty and Real Estate, we are always here to help. Check back next Friday for more tips and tricks for living a balanced life. See you soon! Warmly, Susan