“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Spring is here and it is a perfect time to renew and reshape our practice.
With the explosion of colours, smells and sounds in Nature, even visible to those of us living in London, Spring is the perfect time to get inspired by Nature’s re-birth.
You might start by sensing if the way you have always done your asana practice is still nourishing – perhaps the body has moved to a new place but the mind has not caught up with it, still stuck in an old pattern. Perhaps the body, after winter months feels heavy and sluggish, but the mind is pushing recklessly for more.
Sensing and tuning into our physical, emotional and mental selves can feed our practice with information derived directly form our Being rather than someone else’s experience or a textbook.
From Ayurvedic point of view, Spring is the time of Kapha dosha, which manifests in Nature as structure and growth. Kapha qualities are of stability and steadiness. When Kapha is out of balance, it tends to create lethargy, dullness and heaviness in the body.
To re-establish the balance, the asana practice during Spring time might focus on active, stimulating and warming poses. It might take as little as getting out of bed earlier (Kapha qualities are at their peak in late morning) and start the day with warming asana sequence, energizing breathing or a brisk walk to dispel Kapha qualities.
The asana practice might include sun salutations, poses that open the chest, backbends and twists to stimulate digestion. Kapalabhati breath could be used to shake off the feeling of sluggishness and lack of mental clarity (but should not be practiced during menstruation or pregnancy).
The primary location of Kapha in the body is the head, chest and upper stomach, hence Spring ailments are often located in these parts. To aid the upper respiratory track health, you might try using Neti pot. For more information have a look at: www.healingdaily.com
“Dear Vasco,
Spring has come once more to Curly Flat and the roses are starting to bloom. How contented I feel as I contemplate the roses. How complete life seems in the presence of these ancient perfumes and petals. How liberated from the desire to “better” myself and how sweetly intoxicated I am by these dear, precious moments of self-acceptance given to me, so generously, by the rose”
~ Michael Leunig “ The Curly Pyjama Letters”
