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☯️ More AcuPro Episodes you’ll love:

The Power of Turmeric with Dr. Shivani Gupta

Exploring the Synergies and Contrasts of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine

The BEST Foods for the TCM Lung

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Embracing Fall with Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda & Yoga: 3 Simple Ways to Thrive This Season

There is something about fall that makes me want to slow down.

The crisp air, the changing leaves, the cozy sweaters, ginger tea, and those cooler mornings all feel like an invitation to turn inward. And according to Chinese Medicine, there is actually a beautiful reason for that.

Fall is a season of transition, contraction, reflection, and letting go. It is associated with the Metal element, the Lung and Large Intestine, and the spirit known as the Po.

But what I find especially fascinating is that these ideas aren’t unique to Chinese medicine. Ayurveda and yoga have their own language and practices that describe many of the same themes.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Raye, a Canadian doctor of Chinese medicine and yoga instructor, about the beautiful connections between TCM, Ayurveda, and yoga, and how we can use these traditions to support ourselves as we move into fall.

Whether you’re a TCM practitioner, a yoga enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to feel more grounded and connected as the seasons change, there is something here for you.

 

Why Fall Is Such a Powerful Season of Change

Fall is a season of transformation.

Think about what happens in nature. The leaves change color, the days become shorter, the temperature drops, and eventually the trees let go of what they no longer need.

There is a lesson in that.

In TCM, autumn is associated with the Metal element, which has a quality of contraction. After the expansive energy of spring and summer, nature begins moving inward.

And we can experience that same shift within ourselves.

Fall can be a wonderful time to ask:

• What am I ready to let go of?
• What no longer serves me?
• Where am I holding on unnecessarily?
• What do I want to make space for?
• How can I turn my attention inward?

As I approach my 60s, I find this symbolism particularly meaningful. Just as nature moves through its seasons, we move through our own seasons of life.

For many women, menopause can feel like another version of autumn: a significant transition that asks us to release an old identity and make room for something new.

Rather than fighting that change, we can learn to work with it.

 

Meet Jennifer Raye

Jennifer Raye is a Canadian doctor of Chinese medicine, yoga instructor, and author of Wisdom of the Earth, Wisdom of the Body.

Her work explores the connections between Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and yoga, and one of the things I loved about our conversation was recognizing how often these traditions are describing similar concepts using different languages.

For example, Qi in Chinese medicine and prana in Ayurveda both describe vital energy moving through the body.

The terminology may be different, but there are fascinating similarities in the way these traditions understand the relationship between the body, mind, energy, and environment.

And fall gives us the perfect opportunity to explore those connections.

 

Fall in Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Metal Element

In TCM, autumn belongs to the Metal element.

Metal is associated with the:

• Lung
• Large Intestine
• Po spirit
• Emotion of grief
• Sense of smell
• Autumn season

The Metal element has a strong relationship with boundaries, discernment, release, and inspiration.

The Lung takes in what we need and releases what we don’t.

The Large Intestine eliminates what the body no longer needs.

So physically, these organs are already giving us a beautiful metaphor for the season.

Take in. Let go. Make space.

This isn’t just about digestion or breathing. It can also be a powerful way of thinking about our emotional and spiritual lives.

Sometimes we need to let something go before we have room for something new.

 

The Po: Reconnecting With the Wisdom of the Body

One of my favorite parts of my conversation with Jennifer was our discussion about the Po, the spirit associated with the Metal element.

The Po can be understood as a consciousness connected with the physical body.

It’s that deeper, instinctive awareness. The part of us that can sense something before we can necessarily explain it intellectually.

Think about those moments when your body gives you a feeling before your mind has caught up.

You walk into a room and immediately feel uncomfortable.

You meet someone and something doesn’t feel right.

Or perhaps you know that you’re exhausted even though your calendar says you should keep going.

That’s where reconnecting with the body becomes so important.

Unfortunately, modern life can make this incredibly difficult.

We’re constantly rushing, multitasking, looking at screens, analyzing, thinking, planning, and trying to accomplish the next thing.

We can become so disconnected from our physical experience that we don’t notice what our body has been trying to tell us.

 

Trauma, Stress, and Losing Connection With the Body

Jennifer and I also talked about how trauma and the constant hustle of modern life can disconnect us from our bodies.

This is where somatic movement can be incredibly valuable.

Instead of simply thinking about our body, somatic practices invite us to actually feel it.

Where am I holding tension?

How am I breathing?

What happens when I slow down?

What does my body need right now?

These questions can be surprisingly powerful.

For TCM practitioners, this is especially interesting because Chinese medicine has always placed enormous importance on observing the relationship between the body, emotions, environment, and energetic patterns.

Sometimes healing isn’t about doing more.

Sometimes it’s about becoming aware of what is already happening.

 

Fall in Ayurveda: The Vata Dosha

Ayurveda also has a fascinating perspective on autumn.

Fall is associated with Vata, which has qualities related to space and air.

Think about the qualities of the season:

• Dryness
• Lightness
• Movement
• Coolness
• Changeability

Sound familiar?

These qualities help explain why fall can sometimes leave us feeling more scattered, dry, restless, or ungrounded.

This is one of the reasons seasonal self-care can be so valuable.

Rather than continuing exactly the same routines we used during the hot, expansive summer months, we can begin introducing more warmth, grounding, nourishment, and stability.

And fortunately, we don’t need a complicated routine to do this.

Jennifer shared three wonderfully simple practices.

 

3 Simple Ways to Support Yourself This Fall

1. Try Abhyanga: Warm Oil Massage

One of Jennifer’s recommendations was Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic practice of self-massage with warm oil.

This can be a beautiful fall ritual because it introduces warmth and nourishment during a season that naturally becomes cooler and drier.

It is also a lovely opportunity to slow down and reconnect with your physical body.

You don’t have to turn it into an elaborate wellness routine.

Simply creating a few quiet minutes to apply warm oil mindfully can become an act of self-care.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, this practice is particularly relevant during a Vata season.

And from a broader mind-body perspective, it gives you something many of us desperately need a reason to slow down and actually feel our body.

2. Drink Warm Water

This one is wonderfully simple.

Drink warm water.

As the weather becomes cooler, choosing warm or room-temperature beverages can be a gentle way to support the body’s transition into fall.

It also encourages us to pause throughout the day rather than constantly reaching for cold drinks.

Think of it as another small way to introduce warmth and movement into your daily routine.

And yes, I’m always going to be happy to add a little ginger to my warm water or tea!

3. Practice Breathwork

The third practice Jennifer recommended is breathwork.

This is particularly beautiful during fall because of the relationship between autumn and the Lung in Chinese medicine.

The Lung governs respiration, and breathing gives us a direct way to connect with the present moment.

Even a few minutes a day can be enough to create a pause.

Jennifer mentioned Viloma One, a pranayama practice that can be incorporated into your routine.

You don’t necessarily need a long meditation session or a complicated practice.

Sometimes simply sitting down, closing your eyes, and paying attention to your breath is enough to begin reconnecting with yourself.

 

What Can Fall Teach Us About Letting Go?

Perhaps the biggest lesson of autumn is learning how to let go.

Nature doesn’t fight the changing season.

The trees don’t desperately try to hold onto every leaf.

They release.

And then they rest.

We can learn from that.

Sometimes we hold onto relationships, expectations, identities, habits, or old stories simply because they’re familiar.

But holding onto something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s still serving us.

The Metal element invites us to practice discernment:

What is worth keeping, and what am I ready to release?

This is especially meaningful during major transitions in life.

Whether you’re experiencing menopause, changing careers, entering a new chapter, recovering from a difficult experience, or simply feeling ready for something different, autumn can be a beautiful reminder that change is not something we need to fear.

It is part of nature.

And we’re part of nature too.

Bringing TCM, Ayurveda, and Yoga Together

One of my favorite things about this conversation with Jennifer was realizing how beautifully these traditions can complement one another.

TCM gives us the language of Qi, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the organs, and the spirits.

Ayurveda gives us concepts such as doshas and prana.

Yoga gives us practices that help us connect the body, breath, and mind.

Different traditions, different terminology, but many overlapping ideas about living in harmony with ourselves and the natural world.

And perhaps that’s the most important lesson.

We don’t always need to choose one system and reject everything else.

We can be curious.

We can learn.

We can find the common threads.

And most importantly, we can apply these ideas in practical ways that help us become more aware of ourselves.

 

Your Fall TCM Self-Care Checklist

As we move into autumn, try incorporating a few of these simple practices:

🍂 Slow down and allow yourself more quiet time.

🍂 Let go of something that no longer serves you.

🍂 Try warm oil massage as a grounding self-care ritual.

🍂 Choose warm drinks such as warm water or ginger tea.

🍂 Practice breathwork for a few minutes each day.

🍂 Spend time in your body rather than constantly living in your head.

🍂 Notice your emotions, particularly grief or feelings of loss that may surface during times of transition.

🍂 Embrace the season rather than fighting against it.

You don’t have to do everything.

Choose one or two things and start there.

 

Final Thoughts

Every season has something to teach us.

Spring teaches us about growth.

Summer teaches us about expansion and connection.

And fall teaches us about contraction, reflection, and letting go.

I love the reminder that we don’t have to constantly be moving forward.

Sometimes we need to pause.

Sometimes we need to release.

Sometimes we need to reconnect with the body and listen to the wisdom that’s been there all along.

My conversation with Jennifer Raye beautifully brought together Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and yoga to explore exactly that.

If you’d like to dive deeper into these ideas, I highly recommend checking out Jennifer’s book, Wisdom of the Earth, Wisdom of the Body.

And if you’re a TCM practitioner or student, think about how you can bring some of these seasonal principles into your own practice and perhaps share them with your patients too.

Because sometimes the simplest practices are the ones that have the biggest impact.

Keep rocking it with TCM, and I’ll see you in the next episode!

 

 

Disclaimer

The AcuPro Show podcast and material shared through AcuPro Academy, which is a subdivision of Natural Health Sense Incorporated. Designed solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The utilization of information from this podcast or any associated material is at the user’s discretion and risk. This content is not meant to replace the guidance of an acupuncturist. Nor a Chinese medicine doctor, medical doctor, physician, or any qualified professional. It is not a substitute for proper diagnosis or treatment. Users are strongly advised not to ignore or postpone seeking medical advice for any existing medical condition with their healthcare professional, regarding any health concerns.

 

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