Autumn Newsletter

Every summer I spend my birthday at the CNE, or what us Toronto folks call The Ex.

🍂 It’s the first day of fall, y’all! After a hot, dry summer, a huge rainstorm rolled through last night, and I woke up to a world that had shifted. The air was cool, the clouds created that dark, spooky feel and as the rain fell, I led a September Self-Care workshop—such a perfect way to welcome the season.

What I’ve Been Up To

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how life is short and summers are precious. In the past, I’ve always filled my schedule to the brim, but this year I decided to be more disciplined and savor the season. I didn’t expect to live through the greatest heatwave of my life, and while I probably should have planned more beach days, I was definitely grateful that I scooped up an air conditioner on Boxing Day last year!

Summer highlights included:

• Lazy days
• Hiking
• Mud Hero Obstacle Course Race
• The Canadian National Exhibition
• A Shawn Desman concert

Special mention: After five years of ignoring me (or bolting the other way), my neighbor’s cat suddenly decided to walk into my house one day. Now, he drops by for afternoon visits—such a sweet surprise!

On the professional side, I’ve been building my roster of one-to-one clients and leading Yoga Therapy for Sleep group classes. Are you looking for a live, online program? Reach out to me at zenwithgwen@outlook.com. If you’re new around here, check out the Services page.

I’m also incredibly grateful to be leading yogaworkshops for teen mental health—what I like to call “The Culmination of My Career So Far.” Did you know I’m also a high school teacher? I have chosen to work part-time, which gives me the freedom to combine two of my great loves: yoga and teaching the wonderful young people of the world.

What’s Next

Workshops are still my absolute favorite thing I do, and I can’t wait to see you at one soon. I’m also adding a corporate lunchtime yoga class—the first one I’ve taught since 2019. (What do people even do in offices these days? I guess I’ll find out!)

At the beginning of the summer I took a picture of my TBR, but would you believe I somehow only made it through one book. My poor books get to watch me step over them to enjoy a never ending list of audiobooks, e-books and podcasts. The poor things. I am setting my sights on reading at least one more book this season (let’s set the bar low considering my past behaviour).

Seasonal Wellness Tip: Embrace the Element of Water

Autumn is naturally dry, so it’s important to nourish your body with moisture and grounding foods. One simple, delicious way to do this is to save your vegetable trimmings—carrot tops, onion ends, mushroom stems, etc.—and use them to make a rich, flavorful soup or broth. Not only does this reduce waste, it draws on the hydrating, life-giving element of water to keep you balanced and nourished as the air dries out.

Seasonal Note

As we transition from summer into autumn and winter, this is the perfect time to establish healthy habits. When we build new routines while our energy and inspiration are high, they carry us smoothly through the darker, heavier months ahead.

Stay tuned for cozy recipes, grounding practices, and more seasonal wellness tips coming your way.

🍁 Wishing you a nourishing start to fall,
Gwendolyn