For thousands of years, Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions consider spring as a time of releasing stagnant emotions and energies. Think of it as “spring-cleaning” your mind, body, and soul. We wanted to share some of this ancient wisdom and practice as you embrace Spring.
Shift to Yang Energy
As we welcome Spring and anticipate Summer, the yang energy of movement calls us. This is a big shift from the yin, restful energy of the Winter. A few practices to help you with the transition:
- Reconnect mindfully in nature. Leave your AirPods at home, so you can be fully present as you walk in nature, bringing your full focus into the present moment. Walk at a regular pace, noticing the sensations in your body, as well as the sounds, smells and new growth of springtime. Notice all the things coming alive after a long Winter’s nap.
- Read our tips for starting new behaviors. As you spring-clean and declutter your environment, start to create new healthy habits with the 29 tips to start new behaviors.
- Follow our heart opening yoga poses. Green and the heart chakra are springtime symbols, we encourage you to start your day with these poses.
Detoxify to Renew
Each season is associated with elements, chakras and organs. Spring represents wood, air, heart chakra, and liver. While wood exemplifies the development stage of birth, the liver is believed to represent the flow of Qi (vital life force that keeps our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health in balance). An imbalanced liver is often the root cause for hay fever, strong emotions, inability to transition to ‘lighter moods’, etc.
A few important ways to rebalance the liver so it can do its magic as your detoxifier:
- Consume all things green! Ingesting foods of the same color traditionally linked with the liver is a simple way to resonate with this element. Think salads, beans, peas, kale, lettuces, broccoli, avocado, basil, green tea, cucumber, etc.
- Read our morning detox recipe! This simple combination works wonders in helping your liver and overall health.
- Limit or remove alcohol. Ever hear of the phrase ‘green around the gills’? Green is the color associated with the liver and if it is overworked, you may notice a green tone around your face.
- Watch the spring winds! The winds of this season can easily stir up our liver energy, so especially during the early weeks of Spring, protect yourself from the elements while you enjoy nature. A good rule of thumb in windy weather is to cover the back of your neck, as this is the one area most susceptible to illness if exposed.
