Autumn is the time of increased vata energy. Vata is wind and the energy of change. The vata energy is cold, dry, rough, light, changeable and constantly moving. Think of blustery autumn days with the wind whipping up the fallen leaves. Too much vata energy can make you feel unsettled, anxious, scatty, overwhelmed and have difficulty focusing. Physically it can cause dry skin, dry hair and constipation.

You can use your yoga practice to help ground and soothe you. Think strength, stability and stillness, feeling the ground beneath you and putting down roots.

There are many ways in which you can achieve this through your practice. You can think about drawing the excessive energy from the mind and send it down into the legs and feet. Finding strength in standing poses such as warrior I and II and finding a calm stillness in forward folds and meditation.

One of my favourite ways to bring grounding and stillness is with Legs Up the Wall or Tree Pose (Viparita Karani).

Viparita Karani is all about helping maintain healthy life force or subtle energy for as long as possible. In yogic texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Viparita Karani is said to help rebalance energy that flows through the various nadis (energy channels) and chakras (concentrated ‘wheels’ of energy located along the spine), and even says that:

3 benefits of legs up the wall (or a tree) pose

1. Supports your lymphatic and glymphatic systems and gives your immune system a boost

2. Helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system – our rest and digest state

3. Relieves aching muscles and joints and swollen ankles and feet

Whilst Viparita Karani is a gentle and safe posture for most people. However, for some people such as if you’re pregnant, if you suffer from glaucoma, or untreated high blood pressure lying flat on your back is not advised. If this is the case then you can practice a restorative and supported Savasana with cushions and blankets supporting the body to ease yourself into deep relaxation. 

How to do it:

• To get started, place a yoga mat against the wall, so that the short edge of the mat is touching the wall. 

• Set a time for anything from 5 to 20 minutes (start with just a couple of minutes if you have never practiced before).

• Sit on the mat side-on to the wall, then manoeuvre yourself to lie down so that your legs can stretch up the wall.

• Your legs should be comfortable here, so if you need to, shuffle either close to or further away from the wall to suit you. You can also tie a strap around the legs for extra stability.

• Focus on breathing slowly and calmly, moving your awareness from your feet to your head when you inhale, and from your head to feet when you exhale.

• To come out of the posture, hug your knees into your chest and roll to one side.

• After a few moments, gently move into a Child’s pose position, then slowly come up to sit.