Fall season is here, and along with it brings the shift to sweater weather, vibrantly colorful leaves, and pumpkin-spiced everything! However, Fall can also be a time associated with transformation, transition, sadness, and grief. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this time of year correlates to the lung and large intestine channels, which run through the chest and arms and are associated with those heavy emotions of sadness and grief. The physiological functions of these organs align with their energetic function: the lungs govern respiration and the large Intestine governs elimination. Healthy functions of these organs represent our ability to balance taking in and letting go, that’s why taking time to let the body rest and re-set this time of year can be very beneficial in coping with these varied emotions.

Disharmony of these organs can manifest in the lungs as upper respiratory symptoms (runny nose, cough, hoarse voice, shortness of breath, etc.) and in the large intestine through constipation or slow-moving elimination. If any sadness and grief has been experienced and stored in the body and has not been processed, it will continue to constrain qi (chi), or life force energy, and the emotions and disharmony in the body will persist. However, we can use this withdrawing of energy during Fall to our advantage by taking the opportunity to review what needs to be released in our lives. Using nature as an example, we see the process of energy slowing in the trees as the leaves begin to die and the trees begin bringing nourishment back within. The leaves change color at this contraction of energy in preparation for winter, and no longer needing the leaves to bring nourishment, the tree lets go and the leaves are released. We can bring harmony back to the body by slowing down, giving room for reflection, and creating a state of ease with our relationship to change. As nature and the seasons demonstrate, life is a series of cycles and changes.

The following 3 restorative poses are meant to create space for introspection, stimulate the lung and large intestine channels, and encourage a state of ease. We will use the physical body in these poses to assist the emotional and mental aspects of our being. This sequence can be used anytime you need help in creating clarity over what is no longer serving you. A note before trying any of these poses: there should never be pain, however, there should be sensation. The breath is a good indicator of appropriate amount of sensation for your body. If the breath is restricted, shallow, or you are holding your breath, you can make adjustments or add support, so the breath is more natural and the sensation decreases. In a restorative practice, we are looking to move into the pose and hold it for at least a few minutes, so you want to feel as comfortable as possible.

1) Child’s Pose
In this posture, we will create rest and relief physically, emotionally, and mentally. Allow your breath to be natural. It is nice to have a bolster or a couple of pillows stacked to rest on to, and a soft surface or cushioning for underneath your knees.
How-to: From Tabletop position (being on all four’s), sit your hips back to your heels and bring your knees as close to each other or as far apart as needed to create the most comfort for your body. Rest the front of your torso onto the support of the pillows or bolster and turn your head to one side (remember to switch sides half-way through). Your arms can run alongside your body or hug the support in close, which brings a more nurturing feeling to the pose. Stay here for 3 minutes.

2) Seated Wide-Legged Forward Fold
In this posture, we nourish the Earth element, which is active during the transition of seasons. By stimulating the inner legs (the channels of Earth element), we strengthen the element that helps us during transitions. Holding this pose also helps us to create space for introspection, allowing ourselves to be present with any emotions. Having stacked pillows or bolsters for support to rest on is important here. Also, you don’t want a lot of rounding in the low back, so keeping a blanket under your hips to encourage a forward pelvic tilt (so your sit bones point behind you) can help as well.

How-to: From a seated position, spread your legs as wide as comfortable. Lift your spine out of your pelvis as you reach your sternum forward. Once you reach your desired sensation, support yourself with your pillows or bolsters pulled in so you can rest your head and fully relax your neck. Your arms can be resting down or you can wrap them underneath your props. Stay here for 3-5 minutes.

2) Gentle Chest Opener
This gentle chest opener helps to open the lungs and facilitate a deeper breath. When experiencing sadness and grief, the breath can become restricted in the upper part of the lungs, making the breath shallow. Consciously deepening and slowing the breath down regulates the nervous system, communicating to your body that you are safe. On the inhalation, feel the lungs and ribs expand and then, keep the sensation of expansion on the exhale.
How-to: Fold a blanket into a rectangle shape and roll it lengthwise. Adjust the diameter of the blanket to suit your body (recommend 3 inches). Place the rolled blanket perpendicular to your body just below your armpits, so your head can rest comfortably on the floor. Bring your arms to the sides of the body or into a cactus position and stay here for 3 minutes.

If you enjoyed experiencing these restorative poses or are intrigued to try out more in a structured environment with guidance and support, I encourage you to come to a Yomassage™ Class, where you experience more restorative poses and receive hands-on massage from a licensed massage therapist. www.yomassagemoab.com

By Meagan Coy an LMT and Registered Yoga Teacher, and owner of M.C.’s Healing Arts in Moab, Utah

Fifth Annual Death of Dinner strives to create more peace and ease around the subject of death. It will take place on November 19th at 6:30 p.m. at the Seekhaven Chapel, 100 North & 200 East. In the fall of 2015, Grand County Hospice joined this grassroots movement, aiming to break down barriers and address the taboo surrounding death. The dinner table provides the perfect environment for this very human conversation. A beautiful, fall-inspired meal will be donated and prepared by Moonflower & The Moab Brewery and served by Grand County Hospice Volunteers and Staff.

“How we want to die represents the most important and costly conversation America isn’t having.” More than 90% of the people think it’s important to talk about their loved ones’ and their own wishes for end-of-life care. However, less than 30% of people have discussed what they or their family wants when it comes to end-of-life care (Source: National Survey by The Conversation Project 2013).

We will be accepting donations, should you feel so inspired, but a donation is not a requirement for attendance. Seating is limited, so please RSVP at 435-719-3772 or jessicaw@mrhmoab.org by November 11th. Attendees will be provided with reading, listening, and viewing material upon registration in order to inspire thought on the subject. To find out more about this project, please visit http://deathoverdinner.org/.
Be sure to mention that you read about this in the Moab Happenings.