Each season the environment around us changes. Energies shift, temperatures rise and fall, and we see the results of these changes in the natural world. There is a cycle of birth or sprouting, growth and blossoming, a maturation and letting go and then a death. There is such wisdom in this cycle that repeats in so many areas of our lives from a 24hr period to a lifetime. At The Octagonal Space we recognise and honour the cycle of the seasons with weekend cleanses and resets to help bring us into alignment with the specific energies and gifts each season offers. Our yoga focus changes to energise and enliven different meridian systems and organs as do the foods and cooking methods that best support you through these changes.
Following is a deeper look at each season, what it brings, and how we can attune to it with wise choices…
Spring is the season of fresh new beginnings. New shoots sprout from the ground and trees and the energy is a rising one of lightness, freshness and renewal. As the heavy chill of winter begins to lift and the days become longer our amount of activity needs to gently increase. Rising earlier with the sun and utilising this extra morning time doing something new, revitalising, and active will help attune you to this season.
Traditionally, springtime sees us with the least food of the year. Our winter stores would be depleted and the new crops yet to yield. So, it follows that traditionally spring is the time where our diet would be the sparsest. The term spring cleaning can be applied to our bodies too. This is a great time to fast, or reduce the amount of food we take in, for a few days to assist the body in its removal of build ups from the heavier diet and lowered activity of the winter months. Doing this allows our body to feel light, renewed & refreshed.
The liver and gall bladder are the organs and meridian systems of the wood element, our focus in the springtime. The liver must process everything we take into our bodies, so any way we can make its job easier is much welcomed. This allows it to focus more on detoxing and cleansing the body. Green is the colour of the wood element, so including lots of green foods is also a good food as medicine prescription.
The flavours of spring are sour, light, lively, subtle and tart. Spring cooking techniques include high temperatures for short times like stir frying, parboiling, blanching, steaming. It helps to start chopping your veggies smaller, so they cook more quickly. Spring yoga focusses on lengthening and opening the sides of the body, as well as twisting and bringing movement and energy flow into the joints. In spring we work to increase flexibility and adaptability, creating a feeling of grace, suppleness and lightness.
The flavours of spring are sour, light, lively, subtle and tart. Spring cooking techniques include high temperatures for short times like stir frying, parboiling, blanching, steaming. It helps to start chopping your veggies smaller, so they cook more quickly. Spring yoga focusses on lengthening and opening the sides of the body, as well as twisting and bringing movement and energy flow into the joints. In spring we work to increase flexibility and adaptability, creating a feeling of grace, suppleness and lightness.
The summer months bring us warmth and abundance on all levels. A time for celebration, play, laughter, socialising, and creativity. Looking to nature things are lush, green and golden and in full bloom. The long days and full strength of the sun bring us lots of energy to utilise.
Summer sees us focussing on the fire element. This is the most expansive and upward rising aspect of the energy cycle. The destructive nature of fire also brings great transformative energy. When we regulate this energy properly, we can use its power to strengthen our intellect, communication, and creative abilities. The fire element highlights the organs and meridians of the heart and small intestine. The intellect, brain, circulatory systems of blood and lymph, and temperature regulation are also accessible, through the other two meridians of the fire element, the heart constrictor (pericardium) and the triple heater.
Opportunities abound for growth and healing in emotional matters of the heart, as well as physical heart health and rejuvenation of the circulatory systems. We can improve our assimilation of food, our relationship to the environment and other people as well as accessing our deep inner strength and power. Summer can be our most creative and productive time. If we eat in a manner that supports this bountiful season we can take full advantage of the suns powerful energy and bounce through the hot months with high spirits and smiles of sunshine!
Bitter is the flavour for the beginning of summer moving into the sweet flavour for the end of summer. The vegetables and grains of summer are fast growing light and expansive. More fruit is available and can be tolerated during the summer months. Summer cooking methods are quick and light, blanching, steaming, grilling, toasting, and pressed salads. More raw food can be tolerated in the summer months.
Yoga for this season focusses on strengthening the core, connecting to hara and boosting the function of the small intestine, creating inner power; softening and opening the upper body; improving circulation; strengthening the arms and improving flexibility in the wrists and shoulders; deepening the mind-body connection and clearing the mind of unnecessary chatter.
As the growth of summer progresses we come to the time where everything is fully ripe and sweet, ready for the harvest. This time marks the peak of summers growth and expansion with a pause to ground and steady our bodies and minds in readiness for the big shift of autumn, cooling down, contracting and letting go. The emphasis is on harmony, nourishment, moderation, and regularity at this time.
The element that supports us here is Earth. Earth comes to support us for all times of change. So it’s there at every change of season. It’s at the centre of all the elements supporting everything with the nourishment that fertile earth can provide. The organs and meridians for this element are those of digestion, assimilation and strong blood and flesh creation, the stomach and spleen/pancreas.
When our earth element is nourished and strong, our digestive system functions well and we feel satisfied, stable and content. We are able to take in, digest and assimilate our environment, remaining connected and in tune with the rhythms and cycles within and around our body.
A depleted or weak Earth element sees us feeling scattered, weak, tired, and needy, struggling to maintain a sense of routine and harmony in our life.
Sweet is the flavour for late summer and the Earth element. The gentle sweet flavour of roasted root vegetables, well-chewed whole grains and fruits. Simple food with mild flavours. Yellow, orange and round foods like pumpkin, corn, caramelised onions, pureed soups, broths, congees, and porridges all feed and support the earth element. Chewing your food well is key for a healthy Earth element.
Yoga for the Earth element is all about creating roundness, fullness and centredness in the body. Opening, stimulating and strengthening the front of the body, where the stomach meridian runs, with variations on arch, camel and bow poses; activating and toning the inner leg; belly breathing and bringing energy and strength around the navel, our nourishment centre.
Autumn is a time of contraction, drying and letting go. We only need to look to the deciduous trees to see the natural forces at play. The energy or life force of the tree starts to contract and pull inwards leaving the leaves to dry out and fall. Nutrients are concentrated and conserved for the coming winter when energy sinks down to the roots. Traditionally autumn is a busy time of gathering, storing and preserving the harvest. We can relate this sentiment to our bodies with aims to improve our absorption of minerals and strengthening our blood. Getting our physical stores ready, at this time, sets us up for a successful winter season of building bone and regenerating. We need to let go of all the excesses of summer, anything that we no longer need, scaling back to the essentials. Autumn is a great time to drop excess weight, clear clutter out of our homes and minds, cut back on extra commitments and distil the things of value in our lives.
The element focus for Autumn is Metal. Metal encompasses the organs and meridians of lungs and large intestine (colon). A well-functioning Metal element gives us great discernment so that we make the best decisions on what to gather and store and what to let go of.
Pungent is the flavour of autumn. Astringent foods also help encourage contraction. Whole grains, nuts and seeds and root vegetables are important autumn foods. Cooking methods should involve more focussed preparation, placing more energy into the food with heartier cooking styles. Pressure cooking, fermenting, pickling, preserving, baking and sautéing are all appropriate for Autumn.
This season’s yoga focusses on strengthening the lower body; lengthening and toning the waist; creating power in the arms and lungs; boosting general energy and vitality; and improving the function of the colon. Clearing the toxins from mind and body by letting go of the unnecessary.
Winter is the end of all the seasons. It is a quiet, still time for becoming more receptive and internal, a time to rest and regenerate the body. The colder months call us to draw inwards and focus on rest, renewal and rejuvenation. In nature the trees lose their leaves and energy drops down to the root system. We too can follow these natural energetics, taking the opportunity to heal and strengthen our bones, spine, energy levels (adrenals), The cold temperatures and longer darker nights encourage us to seek warmth with in ourselves. The energies of winter are sinking, settling, and storage oriented. The meridians of focus in winter are kidney and bladder. These belong to the water element. and are linked to the structural integrity of our body and its shape, the bones and our nervous system.
Winter gives us the opportunity to discover a calm sense of inner peace, security and willpower. A wonderful time to rest, re-build and rediscover ones inner essence. Great healing of our kidney and bladder energy is possible at this time. A strong water element conquers fears and supports confidence to excel in our endeavours.
In winter the big heavy pots come out of the cupboard and live on the stove top. Food preparation involves long slow cooking techniques. Ingredients are cut into bigger chunks, holding more warmth and energy. Meals become heavier and richer. Hearty soups, stews, casseroles and hotpots along with slow roasting and baking are water supporting, winter cooking styles. Salty is the flavour for winter.
This season’s yoga focusses on building inner strength and stability; improving balance, leg connection and strength; releasing tension from and lengthening the spine and the back of the body; toning and strengthening the muscles of the back; building core strength and support; cultivating stillness and inner calm.
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Photographs of Danielle, Steve and
The Octagonal Space by
Hayley Melrose – Soul Photography &
Elizabeth O’Donnell Photography
We acknowledge the Darug and Gundungurra peoples, as the traditional custodians of the Blue Mountains, the area where The Octagonal Space stands. The Darug and Gundungurra peoples have a rich and long history of deep connection to and care of country and we honour their cultures and customs that continue to nurture this land. We pay our deep respects to elders past, present, and emerging.
