​Metal Element – Letting go
 
The first two months of our Fall season have passed, and in another month we fully transition to Winter. So there is still time to take advantage of the energies of Fall – which is ruled by Metal in the 5 Element system. Fall is a time for letting go of things that no longer serve our highest good. It is a time to take inventory of what we now value in our lives and make the appropriate adjustments in our thoughts and actions to put us in alignment with our evolving values.
 
Throughout our lives we constantly grow and change through experience. What we wanted when we were a young child is different from what we want when in our teens, 20’s, 30’s etc.. Change and growth are necessary, but can also be scary. Many of us would rather cling to certainty and what is familiar over taking the time and effort to make the changes that would truly serve our evolution and happiness. Resisting change results in stagnation which will manifest in our bodies, moods, relationships and our flow of abundance.
 
Take the time to evaluate what you value in your life right now in the areas of work, relationship, experiences, health and wealth. What is in alignment with what you value and what you want to experience and what is not. Write down each category and allow yourself to fully express first what is working and then what you would like to experience differently. 
 
Once you uncover what must change in your life to meet your new values, you can take the steps that allow those changes to occur. Without the self -inquiry and discovery, you are at the whim of what you have already created. The only change that can lead to true happiness and joy are those that are directed from the level of your true self or soul. This is where a consistent yoga practice can be an extremely valuable tool. It leads you to connection with your soul and higher guidance, allowing you access to what your soul is calling forth from you now.
 
The Metal Element practice was designed specifically to encourage the energies of letting-go, forgiveness and facilitating the deep connection with your inner core. When you initiate the work through the body, the mind naturally let’s go and it becomes easier to shift from the familiar and even welcome the next phase of growth. 

​It may be feeling more like winter, but we still have a full month of Fall. In Chinese Medicine Fall is the season for the Metal Element. On a physical level it rules our immune system and respiratory system. If there is a weakness in the Metal Element it may show up in the immune system as easy to contract colds and flu. One simple way to bolster your immune system is to keep your head and neck covered when there is a chill in the air. It may seem like a myth that allowing yourself to get cold or going without a jacket can lead to a cold, but in Chinese medicine the area at the base of your neck is called the wind gate area. If cold enters this area with enough frequency and your immune system is weakened, then it can certainly make you a ripe guest for the cold virus to take hold. Next time you head out and there is a chill in the air, grab your jacket, a scarf or hat, it may just save you from contracting that annoying cold that is going around.
Another way to keep the Metal Element organs functioning well is through the Sacred Pathways vinyasa sequence specifically targeted to open and balance the Lung and Large Intestine Meridians. Both these meridians flow through the arms, so poses that emphasize stretching and opening the shoulders, forearms, wrist and hands can be helpful in supporting the energy flow in these meridians thus supporting your immune and respiratory systems. Since I have been practicing these vinyasa flows on nearly a daily basis for 10 years, I rarely get sick. When I do, it typically lasts only a day or two and then it’s gone.
With the right tools and a little bit of effort and awareness, you can stay well and thrive throughout the viral season. 

​Nourishing soups
 
I always get excited for the cooler weather. It encourages a slower pace from the busy summer months. There is more time to get indoor projects done and one of my favorite things about the chill in the air is soup making. Nothing is quite as sweet as cozying up to the fire with a nourishing and tasty bowl of soup. A bonus to soup meals is they tend to be full of veggies, easy to digest and deeply nourishing.
 
I just made one of my favorites the other night and I just have to share it, Curried Salmon Soup! It probably remains one of my favorites because we generally do not have enough Salmon left over to make it, so it doesn’t get made as often as some of my others.
 
Ingredients:
1-2 tablespoons butter
1 sweet or yellow onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of water, give or take
2 tablespoons curry powder, or to taste
3 stalks of celery, diced
1lb of marinated and baked salmon
about 8-10 organic, rainbow fingerling potatoes, diced
1 – 2 cans of coconut milk (to taste)
½ pound Spinach (optional)
 

1. Sauté onion in butter until translucent, add the garlic and celery, sauté another 2-3 minutes, 
2. Add the potatoes and curry powder, sauté another 3-5 minutes
3. Add the water and coconut milk
4. Add water or coconut milk as needed to achieve the amount of soup broth you desire, let simmer for 15-20 min
5. Toward the end of cooking cut the Salmon into bite sized pieces and add to the soup.
6. Check the soup for taste, add salt only if needed. Some curry powders are salty, others are not. 
7. Serving option is to put fresh spinach at the bottom of your soup bowl and ladle the soup over the top. Enjoy!

 
Give this soup a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Be careful, it might lead to the desire to meditate and practice yoga on a regular basis! Namaste.