Seasonal Yoga
Spring
Spring was the start of a new year in England and Wales until 1752, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Qi Gong, spring is associated with the element of wood, due to it being a time of new beginnings. We all feel better once the lighter evenings start, giving the feeling of rising energy after the long, cold, dark winter, moving us forward with optimism and anticipation. As nature begins to use her stored energy from the winter season, to produce new shoots and new birth, we feel more energised and start to increase our activity. Spring is the time for fresh ideas and new learning opportunities.
Spring classes at Wild Rose Yoga work with the TCM meridians of the liver and gallbladder, using side bends and twists. I take you gently out of winter into the new season building on strengthening our bodies with squats and lunges.
Spring meditation and mindfulness focusses on using our sense of sight and the colour green, reinvigorating ourselves and our bodies ready for the more energetic months to come.
Early Summer
Early Summer starts from around 21 st May when we tend to feel more invigorated and open to new ideas. The Seasonal Yoga moves of early summer are designed to work with the heart using more energetic Yang postures and opening up the fascia (the connective tissue which links and protects nerves, joints, tendons, and ligaments in your body). Early summer is also a time when we work with the small intestine, discerning what is good for our bodies and minds and what is not. The TCM element of early summer is fire and the sense touch, as our bodies warm up and we are feeling more open and sociable. Early summer yoga poses incorporate some more energetic Ashtanga flows, hip and chest openers.
The heart is also our stimulus for mindfulness and meditation at this time of year, as we explore and become more aware of our feelings. By reflecting on how our emotions, either positive or negative can affect ourselves and others, we can change our lives. “We all have the power to change our lives, but it starts with changing our thoughts.” Joe Dispensa Becoming Superhuman.
Late Summer
Late Summer starts from around 21 st August and is a time to return to centre in our practice and in our lives. Late Summer yoga focusses on core strength and balance. Standing balances build strength and confidence, building muscle tone. Working to boost the digestive, lymph and immune systems, the poses used in Late Summer open up and stretch the meridians of the stomach, spleen and pancreas.
Late Summer mindfulness and meditations make use of the element of Earth to ground us with walking meditations and techniques to still the overthinking mind and overcome challenges. Harvest has traditionally been a time for reflection and gratitude for what we have, focussing on the sense of taste and the orangey colours of the season.
Autumn
Autumn is a time to start letting go and reflecting inwards. From around 20 th October, we begin to reflect on the cycles of life to help us let go of any negative influences. At this time it is important to focus on breath work (pranayama) to strengthen the lungs as we move through postures such as Warrior 1 and Half Moon to strengthen the core, legs and spine. The organs or focus in Autumn are the lungs and large intestine, both involved in the elimination of toxins from the body. Stretches such as Cobra and Chair stimulate these meridians and help us balance our mental and physical health.
Autumn meditations focus on the sense of smell, eucalyptus oil being particularly beneficial. How we breathe determines how well we centre ourselves; even just being aware of breathing can help realise and clear the body’s tensions. Autumn, with the element of Metal as its focus, supports us into the stillness of Winter.
Winter
Winter is a time to focus on the softer, Yin aspect of our lives and our practice, supporting ourselves through the cold, dark winter months. It is a time to use our energy for self- reflection, rest and rejuvenation. We hold postures for longer in Winter, using Bandhas (specific muscle contractions) to lock energy into our bodies. The focus is on spinal flexibility and awareness, working with and improving the flow of cerebral spinal fluid as we work with the kidney and bladder meridians. The iliopsoas muscles play an important role in spine stabilisation and hip mobility and sitting for prolonged periods can lead to tension and weakness in this group of muscles. Keeping the iliopsoas muscles strong and flexible during the winter months can help prevent injury and pain in future as well as maintaining the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Winter mindfulness examines our relationship with quiet; stilling our minds allows for deeper understanding of ourselves and a sense of inner calm. The colours of winter are blue and black as we use the inspiration of the darkness of night and deep water to evoke serenity. Providing space to process thoughts reduces stress and improves our mental and physical well-being. Just as nature recognises the importance of conserving energy over the winter months, we work with the natural energy of the season to promote natural well-being.
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