The Seasonal Shift: Acceptance & Boundaries
As we move through this seasonal shift into autumn, you might be experiencing changes through your own life too. The mornings & evenings have arrived with a crisp air; and sometimes we find ourselves in environments that bring a change and possibly a place we can't physically escape from - whether that's a challenging workplace, a difficult home situation, or simply the general chaos of daily life. But here's something beautiful we have been practising: we can create our own bubble of safety, a boundary of peace that travels with us wherever we go.
The wisdom of acceptance comes to us through Yoga Sutra 2.16, which teaches us about preventing future suffering (caused by oneself). It's not about avoiding discomfort - that's not the way and it’s pretty impossible. Instead, it's about developing the skill to meet whatever arises with a sense of spaciousness. When we can't change our external circumstances, we can still transform our relationship to them. Inspiration from the “Embodying the Yoga Sutra” book by Randy Roy & David Charlton:
“By reducing our tendencies to compound our problems, this sort of skilful living helps us to reduce the suffering yet to come.”
From the philosophical perspective, we're working with the understanding that our suffering often comes not from the circumstances themselves, but from our resistance to them. When we can soften that resistance - not through forcing or bypassing, but through genuine acceptance - we discover a different way of being with difficulty.
Your bubble of safety visualisation - Imagine drawing an invisible boundary around yourself, I like to think of it as a bubble, you may think of a boundary, a sphere/ circle. (This isn't about shutting out or disconnecting; it's about creating a space within yourself that remains peaceful, no matter what's swirling around you). As you breathe in visualise your breath expanding out in all directions, continuing beyond your physical form to the edge of your bubble/ boundary. Then observe the flow of air travelling back in towards the centre of your body, repeat and return!
The seasonal shift reminds us that change is natural & inevitable. Your bubble of safety isn't about creating a fortress against life; it's about cultivating an inner sanctuary that allows you to meet whatever comes.
I have recently been experiencing a lot of changes in my world - including selling my house and moving towns! I now live in Sandbach with my other half.. (but don’t worry I am still working in Northwich and nothing will change my yoga offerings! 😊 ) .. and it’s been a super stressful time - it’s never just one thing, always everything at once! But as always yoga is here to support me with the tools that I know & teach.. and most importantly, remind me what matters.
Here’s a beautiful autumn sunrise shot I captured from the front window of the place I now call home 🧡
You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes.
1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.