Let Late Summer Support You — Not Drain You

Late Summer in the UK: A Season of Transition

September in the UK often feels frantic — kids back to school, routines shifting, the rush to get organised again. It’s a season of change that can feel anything but grounding.

Every year, there’s a dog walk where it hits me: the leaves are losing their colour, the evenings are shorter, the sun sitting just that little bit lower in the sky. Summer is quietly slipping away.

For me, that shift is always a challenge. I adore summer — the warmth, the long evenings, the freedom. I latch onto it, and the move into cooler, damper months can feel like a loss.

But this year, I’m trying something different.

Reflecting on a late-summer dog walk

Embracing Change with Gratitude

Instead of clinging to summer, I’m practicing moving into late summer with gratitude for all that it was — and a softer kind of acceptance for what’s next.

In yoga, we call this aparigraha — non-grasping. On the mat, it looks like letting the practice be what it is on the day, without forcing or attaching to shapes. Off the mat, it looks like embracing impermanence, loosening our grip on possessions or expectations, and softening into change.

What Traditional Chinese Medicine Teaches Us

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), late summer is associated with the Earth element — the energy of nourishment, grounding, and stability.

It’s linked to the stomach and spleen, which govern not only how we digest food but also how we process life itself. When this system is supported, we feel steady, clear, and centred. When it’s out of balance, we can feel drained, anxious, or scattered.

Supporting ourselves in this season means focusing on nourishment, simplicity, and grounding.

Nourishing Foods for the Transition

One of the simplest ways to honour late summer is to eat in tune with the season. Whole, grounding foods that grow close to the earth help steady the body and support digestion. In the UK right now, that means:

• Root vegetables: carrots, beetroot, parsnips, turnips — roasted or in soups to warm and stabilise.

• Squashes and pumpkins: gently sweet and nourishing, perfect for supporting the spleen.

• Apples and pears: seasonal fruits that are easy to digest and hydrating.

• Grains like oats, rice, and barley: grounding staples that provide steady energy.

• Legumes: peas, broad beans and runner beans, offering fibre and protein without heaviness.

• Warming spices: ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric to gently stoke digestion and keep dampness at bay.

Think simple, balanced meals: hearty stews, porridges, roasted veg with grains, seasonal fruit compotes. Food that feels comforting, steady, and supportive.

The Sunlight We Still Need

Of course, nourishment isn’t only about what’s on our plates. It’s also about light. Even with the glorious sunshine we’ve had this year, I’ve seen so many blood tests still showing low vitamin D.

The truth is, we have to actually be outside in the sun to make it — and by November, most of us in the UK will need to supplement.

So for now, think of these weeks as a chance to charge up your reserves: let your skin drink in the light while it lasts.

Creating Space for Nourishment

That’s my work right now: moving with the season, not against it.

Just as the trees begin to let go of their leaves, I’m asking myself — what can I release to create more space for nourishment in the months ahead?

💭 How do you find this transition?💭 What could you let go of to feel a little lighter and more supported?

Want to Dive Deeper?

✨ If this season has you craving steadiness, I’d love to support you in finding it.

My 1:1 sessions are designed to help you feel nourished and grounded — in a way that fits real life. You can book a Happy Health Hour or explore my longer coaching options here.