Yoga for Spring

Painting by Carrie Ridgeway

I've been reading from a book recommended by my favorite internet Yoga teacher, Melissa West,  titled, "The Way of the Happy Woman" by Sara Avant Stover.  The summary on Amazon says:   "In this book, Sara Avant Stover shows how simple, natural, and refreshingly accessible practices can minimize stress and put us back in sync with our own cycles and those of nature".  The book is divided into seasons, and within each seasonal section there is a chapter with an overview of the season, a chapter regarding ayurvedic prinicipals for eating in that season (with recipes), a chapter with at least two yoga practices designed specifically for that season, and a chapter for reflections for that season.

At the Jones Center I will be teaching several classes designed for Spring.  Thursday, March 17, will be a Yin Yoga class targeting the liver & gallbladder meridians. Yin Yoga is designed to help one sit longer, and more comfortably in meditation by stretching connective tissue around the joints (mainly the knees, pelvis, sacrum, and spine). A passive practice, Yin Yoga involves variations of seated and on-the-back poses typically held for 3 to 5 minutes, accessing deeper layers of fascia (connective tissue).

Join me at 5:30 pm at the Jones Center! Classes are free to members and only $3 for non-members.

Winter Yoga

At this time of year it’s easy to fall into the “doldrums”, or have the winter blues.  Although in winter it’s good to allow our energy levels to be lower, we still need to get moving every day.  Movement is the best way to shake off those winter blues, regardless of the season.  Winter is a great time to practice Yin yoga, which is a slow-paced yoga with poses that are held for longer periods of time—five minutes or more per pose is typical.

The kidney/bladder meridians house the reserves of our vitality in Winter.  A yin practice helps strengthen kidney energy and replenish our life force.  One of the good things about yin yoga is that it doesn’t require much energy to do.  The kidney meridian starts in the baby toe of each foot, travels through the arches and up the inner legs, and enters the torso through the tailbone, where it runs up along either side of the spine.  From there, different branches then flow through the kidneys and bladder as well as the belly, chest, liver, diaphragm and lungs, ending at the back of the tongue.

The bladder meridians start at the outer corners of the eyes, arcs over the head, goes through the brain, and then runs down either side of the spine.  One branch moves internally to the kidneys and bladder, and another flows down the backs of the legs to end at the outside of the baby toes.

Winter is also the season of kapha, the dosha that ayurveda (yoga’s sister science) describes as cold, wet, and heavy—like a blanket of new snow.  Kapha is made up of water and earth elements.  It provides us with physical structure—the body’s tissues and fluids; strong bones; beautiful teeth;   lustrous hair, skin, and eyes; and physical and emotional stamina—these are the gifts of kapha dosha.  The outside influences of winter can aggravate kapha. Symptoms of excessive kapha include a sense of heaviness or “stuckness” (or actual weight gain), chest colds, low energy, even depression.  When kapha dosha is out of balance, you may feel a resistance to physical activity. Though this is a season of darkness, when the earth appears to sleep, underneath the surface nature is gathering energy for the regeneration of spring. Take a cue from nature and use the surrounding darkness as inspiration to go within, exploring your inner realms.  Dive deeply into your practice and find the light there.

Join me at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale for a some winter yoga classes, Jan 26, 28 and Feb 2.  Class is from 5:30pm to 6:20pm.  Beginners as well as experienced yogis welcome!