Physically, energetically, and mentally, late summer is a time when life should be easy and we should aim for the middle path. Not always simple to achieve when this season can actually get quite busy! Follow along below for a few easy ways to bring more late summer self-care into your life.

The Late Summer and The Earth Element

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are five elements – Metal, Wood Water, Fire and Earth. Each of these elements are linked to a season of the year. If you are wondering how this could be, when there are only four seasons, this because in TCM, there is a fifth season: Late Summer. This is the season of the Earth element.

Beginning in late August and ending during September at the Autumn Equinox, this short season is of particular importance because it marks the transition from the yang into the yin time of the year. We can often feel this shift ourselves with noticeable changes in the light and air, and even in the kinds of foods our body might crave.

The late summer is connected to the earth element and is a short season marking the transition between yang (spring and summer) and yin (autumn and winter).

Late summer is a crucial time of transformation, harvest, and nourishment. The Chinese character for the earth element (pictured above) expresses two important aspects of the earth element. The top horizontal line portrays the top of the soil (nourishment), and the bottom line represents the undersoil or bedrock (stability). Our central task with the earth phase of the cycle is to build stability, create balance, and reap the abundance that’s on offer.

The organs of Late Summer are the Stomach and Spleen. The food we eat is one of the ways Qi comes into the body (known as grain Qi). The Stomach (yang organ) is known as ‘the Sea of Nourishment’ due to its crucial role in digestion and it works alongside the Spleen (yin organ) to achieve this.  In Chinese Medicine, the Stomach and Spleen also supply nourishment to our minds as well as emotional and physical stability.

Being the proverbial worry wort, I was interested to discover that the emotion associated with the Earth element is worry; the unending stream of thoughts about anything and everything that could go wrong. But, we can find stability and balance to support the Earth element through our yoga and our lifestyle.

This means taking into account a balance between giving and receiving. Nourishing practices like Yin and Restorative Yoga are very grounding. Practicing lovingkindness towards yourself as well as to others to enhance self-worth is equally supportive.

So, this Late Summer reflect on how you are nourishing yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally and consider incorporating some yin yoga into your life. This is not to say that yang, or more active practices are bad. We need both yang and yin to be in harmony in our bodies and minds. When we have this harmony, then contentment, better health and happiness can follow.