AS WE JOURNEY FROM WINTER INTO SPRING, WE MAY SEEK RENEWAL AND AWAKENING THROUGH OUR SPRING YOGA PRACTICE. HELEN KRAG SHARES 5 CLASSES TO SUPPORT THIS SEASONAL TRANSITION.
“As the days get longer and lighter, we might experience a sense of ‘opening up’ after a period of winter hibernation.”
Clive Fogelman, Moving into Spring.
Ah, those longer, lighter days! They bring so much promise as Mother Nature throws off the covers of winter slumber and bursts forth with new growth. In the Northern hemisphere spring is, for many of us, a time of renewal and rebirth.
Whilst the calendar New Year starts in the depths of winter on January 1st, spring represents nature’s very own reset. We may see it as a ‘second chance’ – an opportunity to harness spring energy, to set fresh intentions, embark on novel ventures or initiate new projects.
As daylight hours extend, our spring yoga practice can take on a renewed focus and energy. In this article, we introduce 5 spring yoga classes to help us embrace this joyful transition.
SPRING YOGA CLASS #1: SHAKE OFF THE WINTER CLOAK (GENTLY)
I am someone who is not good at ‘wintering!’
Come October / November, as I observe nature becoming dormant and winter descending, still I resist the call to slow down. Instead I typically continue to drive myself hard, making unreasonable demands on a body that really needs to rest.
As a consequence, it is common for me to approach spring feeling depleted. My emergence into the lighter months is less of a butterfly-like metamorphosis, and more like a sleepy bear begrudgingly coaxed out of premature hibernation!
For those of us who want to avoid applying too big a shock to the system, our first recommended class is one that takes things gently when the spring light emerges.
SPRING YOGA CLASS #2: CONNECT
Winter can be a time we hunker down and stay close to our nearest and dearest. Then spring invites us to branch out, renew friendships and begin to engage with a wider circle.
This live Spring Qigong Workshop: Feel Bright, Vibrant and Energised with Matthew Cohen provides a wonderful opportunity to come together online and learn Sacred Energy Arts’ practices to harness and reawaken energy for springtime.
It’s from 4.00-6.00 pm on Sunday, 24th March.
SPRING YOGA CLASS #3: SPRING CLEAN
As the warmer months approach, perhaps we feel an urge to ‘spring clean’. It can be cathartic to rearrange our space and clear out belongings that no longer have a place in our lives. It creates space for renewal.
Similarly we can clear out and release stagnant energy by moving our bodies. Step into Spring with Kirsty Nazaré is a short practice (less than 10 minutes) of energising movements and stretches to wake up the whole body.
SPRING YOGA CLASS #4: MOVE MORE AND MOVE EXPANSIVELY!
The increasing light of spring and longer days prompt us to be active for longer periods of time. The more restorative, floor-based practices of winter give over to dynamic flows that incorporate more expansive movements.
SPRING YOGA CLASS #5: WAKE UP!
“If every day is an awakening, you will not grow old. You will just keep growing.”
Gail Sheehy, Author
What a wonderful idea! We are often encouraged to come to our mat as a ‘beginner,’ full of curiosity about what we are doing and learning. Maybe this could be our springtime commitment – to treat each day as an awakening and experience the joy and newness afresh.
SPRING YOGA CHALLENGES
Ready to step it up?
In our 7-day ‘Spring into Action’ challenge we offer two carefully curated collections of classes, one per day for a week of movement. Designed to purge stagnant energy and support the transition into spring warmth.
Why not do both over a two-week period?
FINAL THOUGHTS
The transition to spring is often depicted as a linear journey, with the days growing steadily longer and the sun climbing ever higher into the sky. However, that may not mirror our experience.
There will be days we feel awake and ready to leap out of bed and move our body. Then others when we prefer to pull the covers over our head and returning to slumber.
Listen to your body and allow yourself to experience this year’s spring yoga awakening at your own pace.
Author: Helen Krag. Helen is a health and wellness enthusiast; observer of human behavioural change; yoga teacher trainee; passionate traveller; and lover of the outdoors.
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