Yoga: Spring

Springs is already in the air in British Columbia, and are you ready for a seasonal change?

Nature makes it look smooth, but for us humans it’s not as easy to transition gracefully from one season to the next—especially from winter to spring. Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science and the world’s oldest surviving system of healing. It shows us that the key to feeling in step with the seasons is to harmonize with nature, to follow her lead and dance to her rhythm.

a yoga teacher adjusts a student in a yoga class

Yoga: History

The rishis (the ancient mystical “seers” who founded the yoga tradition) created rituals and festivals to honor each season. These also help to remind us of our connection to the natural world. The great yoga master T. Krishnamacharya adjusted his approach to practicing and teaching yoga to correspond with the time of year. You may not have a spring festival or an Indian yoga master to guide you, but by weaving some simple Ayurvedic principles into your life, you can weather this seasonal transition smoothly and emerge feeling transformed and ready to get your springtime groove on. 

To enjoy a healthy spring, you will need the kapha dosha and bring it into balance. Of the three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. It’s kapha that endows your body with its earthy-watery qualities. It provides lubrication for joints, as well as mucus to protect the sensitive tissues of the sinuses, lungs, and stomach; it also determines the size, strength, and suppleness of your muscles. When kapha is in balance, you feel strong, composed, and stable. When it’s out of balance, you might feel sleepy, mentally dull, or depressed. It’s especially important to balance kapha in the spring, because kapha accumulates during winter and can create diseases by the time spring arrives. 

Large outdoor yoga class

The best approach is multidimensional and includes eating lighter foods, adding certain herbs to your diet. Also practicing asana, pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, and some form of devotional rituals. This may seem to be rather overwhelming at first, but you can begin to integrate change anywhere you’re most comfortable.

Our Yoga Teacher Training program in Victoria and Vancouver, BC, will go through the basics of Ayurveda. As part of yoga practice and how it connects to our body and daily life. If you enjoy reading the tips above, sure you will enjoy our program as well!