Yoga Inspired Practices to Welcome the Season of Rebirth
The spring equinox, March 20, 2023, marks the beginning of the spring season when the length of day and night are almost equal, and the sun appears directly over the equator, signaling the start of longer days and shorter nights in the Northern Hemisphere.
From a yogic perspective, the spring equinox is a time of renewal and rebirth. It's a time to shed the old and embrace the new, both physically and mentally. In yoga, we achieve this through various practices like asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation. It's a time to focus on cultivating balance and harmony, both within ourselves and in our environment.
In Taoist philosophy, the spring equinox is a time of equilibrium between the opposing forces of yin and yang. Yin represents the feminine, passive, and receptive energy, while yang represents the masculine, active, and assertive energy. The equinox represents a time when these two energies are in perfect balance, making it an ideal opportunity to bring our own lives into the same balance and harmony as the natural world.
In our ongoing quest to unite our yoga practice with the patterns of nature and universal energy, today's blog explores the equinox through:
"I embrace the Spring Equinox as a time of renewal and rebirth. I cultivate balance and harmony within myself and with the world around me. As the yin and yang energies come into balance, I am filled with a sense of peace, renewal, and growth."
- Lara Alexiou
Energetic Principles of Spring
To help start the recalibration process, first let's unpack a few energetic principles of spring so that we can tailor our personal yoga practice and lifestyle to harness the transformative energy of the spring equinox.
As we've touched on in prior blogs, the spring season coordinates with the Wood element. A baby tree, or sapling, provides a good visual for understanding. A sapling is pliable. It may need a stake in the ground to protect it from toppling over in a heavy wind. The roots are fragile. The tiny branches are supple, not brittle. Inside, they are the color we call spring green. Green is the color of spring. And in our vernacular slang, we describe someone who is new at something as "green" until they become seasoned with experience.
Next, let's look at our own bodies.
The eyes are the orifice of the Wood element. Very reactive, eyes are constantly stimulated by everything they see, much like how one small breeze will rattle every leaf on the sapling tree.
To find balance this equinox, can you take time this season to really observe? Or, when feeling overwhelmed, break the loop of constant stimulation with closed eye meditation. Even just a few deep breaths with the eyes closed can be a helpful reset.
In yoga practice, quiet the eyes. I remind my yoga students of this all the time. Choose one fixed place for a focal point in order to calm and control the eyes, and therefor also the brain's, reactivity. When the eyes "see," the mind starts to create stories, pulling us out of the present moment. If we train the eyes to observe instead, we create space between what we see and the immediate impulse to create a story to go with it.
Spring and the Wood element also coordinates with our small muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments, the sinewy parts of the body, again just like pliable small branches on a tree, parts that bend and find movement, but don't snap.
In physical yoga practice, spring is prime time for slow stretching, like yawning, reawakening after winter hibernation. Take time especially to stretch out the hands, fingers, and ankles. Go slowly. Prefer a faster paced yoga practice? No problem! Set the intention to observe the body by picturing the inner sinews stretching. Even in an upbeat flow we can calm the whirls of the mind through intention, focus, and mindfulness, helping us connect more easily into the spiritual benefits of yoga practice that await us in the rich stillness of the universe.
The Wood element's yin and yang organs are the liver, responsible for cleansing the blood, and the gall bladder, which helps us digest fat. Rebekah takes over from here to serve up some easy and fun spring juices and snacks to support the liver, digestion, eye health, and anti-inflammatory responses through nutritious (and tasty) super foods - no blender needed!
Food for Thought - and for the Spring Palate!
Welcome Rebekah Gillette, Holistic Chef, Recipe Developer, Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Also author of the forthcoming book, Food for Thought.
In Rebekah's own words:
The Mind-Body Connection
Symbolically, while spring is all about cleansing, renewal and rebirth, February and March can often arrive with sluggishness, frazzled nerves, and excess weight, especially for those of us living in the colder winter climates.
Interestingly, everything we feel translates to a certain process of the body. If you’re feeling lethargic, irritable, or finding yourself procrastinating even the simplest tasks, that could be spring’s message from your body saying, “Hey, I need a boost here!”
If you’re feeling tense or irritable as the spring equinox arrives, take it as a simple subtle message from your body that your liver is requesting some spring cleaning!
When any emotion shows up within our body or mind, it’s great to remind ourselves that emotions are just here to guide us in better caring for our body. Discomfort is your body’s whisper. Pain is the graduate and can often be more difficult to work with. Wisdom will listen and act upon the message that your body presents while your body is strong enough to support the healing process.
Spring is great place to begin the process of giving your body that much needed fresh start as the energy of spring completely supports regeneration!
How To Gently Give Your Liver A Boost
The easiest way to give our bodies a boost, a cleanse, or rejuvenation, is through food, the roots of our planet. Food can be a weapon against our body or a warrior in support of our health. Every meal is a choice!
Grapefruit Dip with Carrot and Cocohydrate - supports inflammation reduction and eye health
Sometimes we need a doable way to get maximum nutrients. For that reason, Lara and I teamed up and recorded a few simple videos showcasing some of the tasty ways that I like to use the nutrients of spring to provide on-the-go snack and juice options for athletes or for anyone looking to give their health a nourishing boost of good energy this spring.
Below you will find discount links for purchasing any of these delicious PURIUM SUPERFOOD PRODUCTS featured in the videos.
Can’t Beet This Easy Kombucha Fizz - in support of cellular cleansing and energy
Sweet Barley Grass Tea video – in support of energy and for having a refreshing everyday option for delicious greens and electrolytes, Click Here
Resources
You may also purchase any of these great superfood products at the links below. Save $50 on your first purchase ($75min) or 25% when you spend over $200.
For Carrot Juice Plus, CLICK HERE
For Pineapple Coco-Hydrate, CLICK HERE
For Can’t Beet This, CLICK HERE
In Closing
Overall, spring equinox is a time of new beginnings, balance, and harmony. If we use these insights to help focus our yoga practice and nutritional pallet with the seasonal energies, we can cultivate balance in ourselves and with the world around us.
Thanks for reading and watching - please comment and share!
Namaste,
Lara and Rebekah
Are you ready to leave the hustle and bustle of daily life behind and reconnect with nature?
Join us on Chakra Bliss Meditation and Yoga Retreat this September on Aegina Island, Greece provides the perfect setting of relaxation and rejuvenation. Join us amongst the beaches, the olive groves, and the rolling hills. For all yoga levels and practice styles.
"Attending a yoga retreat hosted by Lara and Yanni Alexiou is a truly amazing experience."
- Erin Pica
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