Spring Equinox: Yoga and Meditation to Help You Align With The Natural Rhythms of the Earth.
Hello Spring! Well, kind of. It appears Spring gave us a shout out in February, but Winter decided she wanted one more glory run. Be that as it may, March 20th is the Spring Equinox and is right around the corner. Marked by equal day and night, the Spring Equinox is a great time to take a moment to realign and reconnect with the energy of the season. The Spring Equinox has been celebrated by civilizations for centuries, yet seems to be a lost treasure in our current day. Are you feeling a desire to get back to your roots?
In this blog, we’ll explore some tips to help us connect with this energy and align our bodies and minds with the natural rhythms of the earth. We’ll explore how some yoga poses, meditation practices and good ole sunshine can help us cultivate balance and harmony within ourselves. Even better, practicing these outside!
Connect with Energy and align our bodies and minds
Half Lord of the Fishes Pose (or really any twist that you enjoy)
Half Lord of the Fishes is a twisting pose that can help us release tension and detoxify the body. Twists are especially beneficial during the spring season, as they can help us eliminate stagnant energy and prep our bodies for growth and renewal.
To practice Half Lord of the Fishes Pose, begin in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the outside of your left thigh. Root down through your sits bones, inhale and lift your left arm overhead, then exhale and twist to the right, bringing your left elbow to the outside of your right knee. Feel your sits bones ground as the crown of your head reaches to the sky. Inhale lengthen, exhale, twist. Hold the pose for several breaths, then release and switch sides.
Mountain Pose
Mountain Pose can help us align with the energy of the spring equinox, help us ground ourselves, and connect with the earth beneath us. I love this during the spring season, as this is a time of growth and renewal when the natural world around us is bursting with new life. By practicing Mountain Pose, we can connect with the energy of the earth and tap into our own sense of stability and grounding.
To practice Mountain Pose stand with feet hips distance apart. Rock back and forth on your feet, then ground them evenly to the earth. Lengthen through your spine, roll your shoulders back and down, turning your palms face out. Relax your jaw/tongue, and feel the crown or your head open to the sky. Slow your breath, welcome in the energy from the earth up through your legs, through your body, to your crown. Feel the energy from the sky, the sun beaming down into your body. Feel the energy of the trees and the life around you. Remind yourself that prana -life force- moves through all living things. Open yourself to the prana flowing through you and all that surrounds you.
Tree Pose (or any balancing pose you love)
Tree Pose is a balancing pose that can help us cultivate stability and focus. This pose can be especially beneficial during the spring season, as it can help us find our center and establish a strong foundation for growth and renewal. By rooting down through the standing leg and lifting up through the spine, we can create a sense of groundedness and stability that can support us as we move forward into the new season. Tree Pose can also help us connect with the natural world around us and bring a sense of gratitude for the abundance of life that surrounds us during this time of year.
To practice Tree Pose, stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Shift your weight onto your left foot, grounding it to the earth. Lift your right foot off the ground. Place the sole of your right foot above or below your knee. Lengthen your body, soften your shoulders. Find a point of focus in front of you, extend your arms like tree limbs in any way that inspires you. Hold for several breaths, then release and switch sides.
Camel Pose (heart openers)
Camel Pose is a heart-opening pose that can help us connect with our inner strength and courage. By opening up the chest and heart, we can release any stagnant energy or emotions that may be holding us back and embrace the fresh energy of the season. Camel Pose can also help us connect with our breath and cultivate a sense of calm and focus.
To practice Camel Pose, begin on your knees with your hands on your hips. Inhale, roll your shoulders back, lift your chest and bring your hands to your low back. Take a moment to breathe, to notice how your feel. Stay here if you would like, this may be the perfect space for you. Body willing and you would like to go deeper into the pose (always listen to your body) you can reach back for you heels. Pause and breathe. Feel your chest open and expanding. Keep your neck relaxed and your gaze lifted. Hold the pose for several breaths. To release, engage your core and come back up to a seated position. Take a few deep breaths.
Take your yoga outside!!
Come play in the sand with us on the beach. No time for a class, no worries. Take a mat out to your porch or your backyard. Enjoy the warmth of the sun, feel the warm rays on your face. Remember how good it feels to be nourished by the sun. If you’re not feeling the yoga, take a walk, or a bike ride, or just bring a blanket out to your backyard and sit. If you can handle being barefoot, even better. Feel your feet connected to Mother Earth whether it be sand, grass or dirt. If it’s raining…go out and dance in the rain.
Meditation on Gratitude
Meditation on gratitude can help us cultivate a sense of appreciation and abundance during the spring season. By focusing on the things we are grateful for, we can shift our perspective and connect with the positive energy of the season.
To practice Meditation on Gratitude, find a quiet space where you can sit comfortably, maybe outside. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, bringing your attention to the present moment. As you inhale, think of something you are grateful for. As you exhale, release any tension or negativity you may be holding onto. Repeat this process for several minutes, focusing on different things you are grateful for each time. When we bring gratitude into our lives it helps us remove any stagnant negative energy that we may habitually hold on to.
Yoga, meditation and being outside can be a powerful way to connect with the energy of the spring equinox. Enjoy this time of new beginnings, of starting a new. Spring brings a magical opportunity for us to reconnect with the nature and the world around us, helping to nurture and ground our energy. To recreate a stable foundation. By incorporating poses that focus on detoxification, stability, and courage, and meditation practices that focus on gratitude, we can align our bodies and minds with the natural rhythms of the earth and embrace the new beginnings that come with this season.
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