Class Theme- Week 1 March 2015- Spring and New Beginnings

Signs of spring are appearing all around us.  There are certain times of year that seem to give us the impetus to make changes in our lives, to renew ourselves, to be resolute.  Spring can be one of these times, with so much energy and life bursting through around us.  The days grow longer and we seem to have more vitality.  So it is a great time to renew our yoga practice, to bring to it the energy of spring, to take our awareness to the sense of lengthening, opening, and expanding that is made possible by well nourished energy sources and firmly grounded roots.

This week in classes, we explore asanas to open the front and back body, including shoulder mobility work to create space to move into. Expanding the thoracic and shoulder blade area is explored both passively and dynamically.  And we draw awareness to the power provided by firm foundations, out of which we can more fully lengthen and grow.

This sense of renewal that spring brings reminds me of the first of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras- atha yoganusasanam: now begins the teachings of yoga.  For me, this is a reminder to constantly keep my interest and awareness in the present moment when I am on my mat to enable me to keep learning and developing and not just going through the motions:  so each breath is a new beginning.  More challenging is embodying this when I step off the mat!  But I will keep trying, as each breath is a new opportunity.   Happy Springtime!