Mimi Kuo-Deemer has created these Seasonal Qigong programs to help you tune into your body and align yourself with Earth’s natural movements. In the Chinese calendar, there are five seasons: Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season has its own energy, or qi. When we harmonize with these energies, we can move towards living a more nourishing and balanced life. Just as the seasons change, our lives are also characterized by constant and sometimes unsettling turns. By synchronizing our bodies with the seasons and cultivating our own energy, we can flow through difficulty with more ease and grace. Because the energy of an element is particularly strong when practiced in its corresponding season, it can be helpful to do these routines according to the season you are in. However, each session can also be done any time of year, as there are seasons of a day as well seasons of a lifetime. Autumn is associated with the Metal element. The Metal element is about inspiration and letting go. In the autumn months, qi flow is notably strong through the Metal organs and meridians of the lungs and large intestine, which focus on purification, appreciation and elimination. This practice can be done any time of year but can be especially powerful in the Autumn months. It will help you do as nature does each autumn: exhale and let go of what no longer serves you, remember what you are grateful for, and nourish a deeper connection to spirit.