Half-term for my son, my husband between jobs until mid-November, and a spontaneous Erykah Badu night after work… I stayed at a friend’s, dashed home Sunday, and by Monday my body was totally disorientated. I behaved like I was in my twenties; my body kindly reminded me I’m not 😅
With the clocks going back and the long darkness settling in, I’m resetting my winter routine.

Here’s the thread running through my own week and recent sessions:

When the body finally feels safe, it reveals and releases what the mind couldn’t name.

Several clients arrived “just for relaxation.” What emerged was what was truly ready to move—tears that named anger at self, pelvic heat that revealed fear/feeling unsupported, a softened face that released worry for a loved one. After the release came relief: warmer chest, easier breath, more space.

And it makes sense: cold, wet, wind, and early dark cue the body to brace (tight neck/chest, shallow breathing). In TCM we’re crossing from Metal (Autumn: Lungs / Large Intestine—letting go) toward Water (Winter: Kidneys—store & rest). If we release now, we can store what we need for winter: sleep, warmth, steadiness.

Insight: Mind Wants vs Body Needs

Sometimes what we think we need isn’t what our body needs.
The mind says, “Push through, do more.” The body whispers, “Warmth, water, slower.”

60-Second Body Check

1. Hand on belly → breathe in 4 / out 6 × 6.

2. Ask: “Body, what do you need right now?”

3. Notice: warm/expansive = yes, tight/heavy = not now.

4. Take one tiny step toward the yes (warm sip, scarf, “not now” text, lie down 3 minutes).

TCM Autumn (Metal) → Winter (Water) at a Glance

Organs: Lungs & Large Intestine → (next) Kidneys
Theme: Let go now so you can store & rest in winter
Climate: cool, dry, windy; early dark can cue bracing
Emotion focus: grief/worry (balm = warmth, rhythm, gratitude)
Common signs: tight chest/neck, dry throat/skin, cough/sneeze, constipation, 3–5am / 5–7am waking

Do-This-Week Checklist (tiny + effective)

1. Breathe & soften (2 mins)
   Hand on chest → inhale 4 / exhale 6 × 10; shoulders drop.
   Acupressure: LU7 (thumb-side wrist) 30–60s/side for breath/neck ease.

2. Warm & moist
   Small cup of Sa-yu (plain warm boiled water) on waking; scarf outdoors; soup/congee daily.
   Food friends: pear, daikon, ginger, spring onion, sesame, miso/broth, oily fish.

3. Release routine (bowel rhythm)
   Warm water on waking, unhurried loo, 5–10 min daylight walk.
   Acupressure: ST36 (below knee, outer shin) 30–60s/leg for resilience.
   Optional: LI4 (thumb–index web) for head/sinus tension—avoid in pregnancy.

4. One gentle boundary
   Send one “not now” today. Calm thought: I let go of what I don’t need; I keep what truly feeds me.

5. Declutter = Metal medicine (5–15 mins)
   I’m detoxing my house too—things that don’t serve my “now” version.

   • Current-You Test: Does this serve who I am now and the winter I’m preparing for?

   • Watch the “just in case” trap; try a 90-day Maybe Box—if you don’t open it, it goes.

C-I-A: A 2-Minute Reset for Autumn Decisions

(Calm → Identify → Act)

C — Calm (60–90s)
Hand on chest → in 4 / out 6 × 10. Whisper: “I am safe to soften.”

I — Identify (30–45s)
“I’m holding on because I don’t want ____; what I truly value is ____ (space/warmth/rest/clarity).”

A — Act (30s)
One tiny step toward the value: put one item in the Maybe Box; send one “not now”; make one warm bowl; or press LU7 with a long exhale.
Seal it: “I choose ____ because I value ____.”

• Tuesdays — HomeWellness, Primrose Hill

• Saturdays — triyoga Camden

• Online — EFT • Emotion Code (by proxy) • Distant Reiki

• Online –Reflect • Release • Reset — 4-Week Somatic Energy & Emotional Programme (Online)