Yin Yoga for the Spring Equinox

Today marks the spring equinox and 6 glorious months of long days and warmer temperatures lay ahead. If, like me, you love to spend as many hours of the day soaking up the sun's rays as possible, this can feel like a powerful and exciting time. I know at this time of the year I start to plan for the summer ahead with a real eagerness and anticipation that can lead to a pretty frantic energy. While I don’t want to dampen the oncoming spirit of spring, a bit of reigning in can help appreciate where we are today, rather than longing for tomorrow.

This is when a slower yoga practice can be particularly poignant. Keep reading for a lovely yin sequence to gently stimulate the meridian lines of the liver and gallbladder associated with the wood element and the season of spring.

This time of year is so wonderfully summarised by my teacher Mimi Kuo-Deemer in her book Qi-gong and the Tai Chi Axis.

“Every year in March, after the cold winter gives way to longer and warmer days, Mother Nature teases me. With increased sunlight, the appearance of flowers and slowly budding trees, I feel as though my heavy winter coat should finally come off. When a blast of arctic-like winds suddenly blows in, however, I am reminded that March is still on the cusp of winter’s end. In fact, in the northern hemisphere, March is a raucous time of year. Strong energy starts to pry us from the grip of bleak, cold days, yet we must remain flexible and patient, and slowly transition out of winter’s enveloping months.”

Spring is a time of growth, expansion and potential. When we consider this growth in alignment with the wood energy dominant at this time of year, our transition into spring can find a natural and unforced unfolding. Wood is rooted, firm and steady. And it is from these roots that it is able to not only grow with clear directionality, but adapt to the unexpected.

Consider at this time of year a life like bamboo. Honourable, upright and supple in mind. Adaptable to nature's changes through its deep rootedness, bamboo teaches a resourcefulness and an ease in the unexpected to help us navigate life's twists and turns. Best to be like bamboo.

Try the following sequence to nourish our roots at this time of year. I suggest holding each pose for 5 minutes but follow your own judgement, releasing or resting into each shape for as long as feels appropriate.

Reclined Butterfly

Feel the point where your big toes connect and visualise the space in the inner line of the legs. Use a bolster beneath the knees or blocks on the outer thighs. Hands can softly rest on the belly.

Elevated Pelvis

Slide the bolster or prop beneath the pelvis and bend both knees, rooting the soles of the feet firmly to the ground. Option to take the arms over head and breathe into side space at the ribcage.

Childs Pose

Take the knees real wide and sink the pelvis. Use blankets to support any space between the heels and bum. Option to hug a bolster. Feel length through the back of the spine and feel a three dimensional capacity to breathe.

Seated Neck Release

Take the hand to the side of the face and soften the ear towards the shoulder, using the support of the palm. Adjust to find release. Extend the opposing arm parallel to the ground to exaggerate the stretch. Take both sides.

Seated Hip Opener

Your choice of sukasana / easy cross, fire stack or gomukhasana / cow faced legs. Move between these 3 to find what feels right today. Either stay upright or slowly release the spine taking a forward fold. Repeat on the second side.

Wide Legged Forward Fold

Take the legs out wide to the sides, placing the hands behind for support. Take support beneath the knees and sit on a prop if needed. Either stay upright or gently fold to any degree. Breath into the space of the inner legs, visualising space from big toes to pelvis.

Savasana

Any shape here to feel your roots. Yield into the earth to receive. Take your time.