One week into Fall and the cues are all around us. Color-tinged leaves, rustling in the wind. Light dimming a bit more each day. That seasonal softening, reminding us to switch gears and get cozy. Yet in the clinic, we’re noticing a collective resistance to the usual slowing down. What’s happening? Need more pumpkin spice?
One possibility is that, with the impact of the pandemic, we are individually experiencing a major life shift which keeps us on high alert. For many of us, it feels counterintuitive to lower our defenses and rest. Our local, national and international communities are also experiencing major shifts, some of seismic proportions. How do we rest during such unrest?
And as we head into colder and darker months, we find ourselves “in the dark” about what the future holds. It feels as if we’re all holding our breath and asking questions like: Am I going to be okay? Is my family going to be okay? Is this school year possible? How will the election go? What will the flu season be like? How are we celebrating the holidays? And, so on…
With all that’s happening, the biggest question of all may be: How do we let go and invite stillness during a time like this?
Slowing Down Through the Lungs
While Fall in the time of the COVID may not feel like Fall at all (or perhaps not yet), the season has much wisdom to offer during this significant time period. A bit of background, in Traditional Chinese Wisdom, the Fall season is associated with the following:
Element – Metal
Yin Organ – Lungs
Yang Organ – Large Intestine
Emotion – Grief / Sadness
Climate – Dryness
Stage of Development – Harvest
Flavor – Pungent
Color – White
Sense Organs – Nose
Tissues – Skin
Sound – Crying
Healing Sound – sssssssssss
Interesting to note that we’re heading into a “Lung season,” while in the midst of a lung-related global pandemic. And yet, it’s the Lungs that will serve us well against our COVID “enemy,” acting as a stronghold of self-defense. In Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The Lungs refine and regulate our qi, i.e. life force.
The Lungs purify the heavenly qi that’s drawn into the body during inhalation. Then extracting purities from the air that’s drawn in, the Lungs distribute these to the body, while eliminating any impurities through exhalation. In a way, the Lungs act like a life force filtration system.
The Lungs defend the body from invasions by colds and flus.
While the Metal element in the body forms the first line of defense against illness, the Lungs offer a particular kind of protective qi to the surface of the body, where it keeps germs from invading. As part of this defensive system, the Lungs control the opening and closing of the pores. They also regulate sweat which can force sickness out of the body.
The Lungs and judgment.
The Lungs govern our sense of smell, which is a physical expression of our ability to form judgment. Our noses tell us what is fresh or rotten, attractive or unattractive, helping us to make distinctions and choices. When we “follow our nose,” we’re following our instinctive judgment. Interesting to note during this important election cycle.
Clearly, the Lungs play a big role in our lives. And as we focus our attention on this significant organ, in the middle of such challenging times, we realize that breathing is one of our body’s built-in mechanisms to help us reclaim balance, calm and harmony.
Try Breathwork this Fall.
For many of us, breathing is a function we don’t think too much about as it’s part of the autonomic nervous system, operating unconsciously and automatically. But when attention is brought to the breath (i.e. breathwork), amazing things can happen.
Breathwork is any effort of conscious or intentional breathing. The Breath app on the Apple Watch? That’s a reminder to do a bit of breathwork! There are many breathwork exercises and techniques out there, but you can begin by setting aside the time to breathe and stay focused on your breath. Simple as that.
For “normal” breathing, we recommend that you find a quiet place and position your body in a way that allows you to fully relax. Wherever and however you will be most comfortable.
Then simply breathe in and out, fully and deeply, while paying exclusive attention to your breath. If you’re challenged by thoughts impairing your focus, try counting from one to ten on the inhale and then counting backwards from ten to one on the exhale.
See if you can do this for one minute, simply breathing in and out and letting go of all thoughts and worries. What does this feel like? Is it hard or easy? Do you notice a shift? No matter the answer, breathwork, just like any new activity, gets better with more practice. If you’re finding a minute or two is easy, increase the length of your session. How long can you go with clearing your mind and only focusing on your breath?
To learn more about breathwork, check out these resources:
How Breathwork Benefits the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Deepak Copra
What is Breathwork and Does it Work? from Parsley Health
Guided Breathwork video by Michelle D’Avella
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Source: Wood Becomes Water: Chinese Medicine in Everyday Life by Gail Reichstein, 2018. Photograph by Stefan Stefancik.
