What the Equinox Knows About Letting Go
Every year around this time, my body starts asking for something different before my mind has caught up. I want to go to bed a little earlier and stay with my morning tea a little longer. On walks around my neighborhood, I slow down to look at the maples. Some are still fully green and others are already turning at the edges, as though they haven't quite agreed on when fall begins.
The autumnal equinox is the point in the year when day and night are nearly equal in length. I've always loved it as a moment of balance, a brief pause between the long light of summer and the darker months ahead. It feels like a natural place to stop and notice where we are, and to ask what we might be ready to set down.
Finding the Middle Way
Our practice takes its name from the Buddhist idea of the middle way, the path between extremes. I come back to that idea often when I think about letting go. Many of us swing between two ends. We either hold tightly to how things are supposed to go, or we try to force ourselves to be "over" something before we're ready. Neither tends to bring much relief. The middle way asks for something that is both gentler and harder: loosening our grip without pushing anything away.
Fall often brings this up for the people I work with in therapy. It's common to feel more tired than usual this time of year and to be quick to blame ourselves for it, as if slowing down were a failure of discipline. Often what's happening is that we're still carrying expectations that fit a different season, like a certain pace, a certain level of productivity, or a standard of getting everything right, and we haven't yet given ourselves permission to put them down.
If you'd like to reflect on this, you might ask yourself what you're holding that you no longer need to hold, and what you'd like to make more room for. You don't need clear answers right away. Simply noticing what feels heavy is often where letting go begins.
Staying Grounded as the Season Turns
Transitions tend to go more smoothly when we tend to the basics. Get outside while the weather still allows it, even if it's just a short walk around the block to see the colors changing. Give yourself a few extra minutes in the morning before the day picks up speed, and take a couple of slow breaths between one task and the next. If your body is asking for more rest, it's worth listening. Fall moves at a different pace than summer, and it's okay if you do too.
A Yoga Practice for Letting Go
Child's Pose is one of my favorite shapes to teach this time of year. Come onto your hands and knees, then slowly bring your hips back toward your heels and lower your forehead to the mat, a pillow, or a bolster. Let your arms rest wherever feels comfortable, either stretched out in front of you or alongside your body.
Once you're settled, notice the places where the ground is holding you up. Breathe in slowly, and as you exhale, see whether your shoulders, jaw, or hands can soften a little. There's nothing to force here. The practice is just noticing where you're gripping and letting that grip ease, even slightly.
Moving Into Fall
When the maples drop their leaves, nothing has gone wrong. They're responding to a change in the season, and I find that a helpful thing to remember about ourselves. We can make space, slow down, and let what we need shift as the light does.
As fall settles in, what might you be ready to let go of?
Looking for Support This Season?
I offer individual therapy at Middle Way Wellness, in person at our Ferndale office and virtually across Michigan, with afternoon and evening appointments available. We also offer small-group yoga classes for anyone looking to reconnect with their body in a supportive space.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the autumnal equinox and why does it matter for mental health? The autumnal equinox marks the point when day and night are nearly equal in length, typically around September 22nd. The shift in light and temperature that follows can affect mood, energy, and sleep patterns. Many people notice a natural pull toward slowing down, which the body is often signaling before the mind catches up.
What is Child's Pose good for? Child's Pose is a restorative yoga shape that gently supports the nervous system. The forward fold and grounded position activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce stress and encourage a sense of physical and emotional safety. It's one of the more accessible calming shapes for most people, and can be supported with a bolster or folded blanket under the forehead or hips.
How does yoga support emotional wellbeing? Yoga works directly with the nervous system through breath, movement, and sustained attention to sensation. Regular practice can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and build resilience to stress. Trauma-informed yoga in particular is designed to support emotional regulation and body awareness in a way that feels safe and self-directed.
Where can I find yoga and therapy in Ferndale, MI? Middle Way Wellness in Ferndale, Michigan offers individual therapy and small-group yoga classes. Caitlin Estep, LLPC, RYT sees individual clients in-person and virtually throughout Michigan, with afternoon and evening availability. Learn more about our therapists.