A Restorative Twist For Spring
For us southern hemisphere folks, it’s now spring! Here in Sydney, the flowers are starting to bloom, the weather is slowly warming up. New green growth is showing up on the trees.
According to Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, everything in the natural world is made up of a unique combination of 5 elements. Earth, water, fire, air and space (or ether). As humans, we are part of nature. We each have our own combination of these elements too, which make up what’s called, our dosha. Sometimes our elemental combination can get out of balance and then, according to Ayurveda, this creates disease.
Spring is kapha season, the dosha which is a combination of earth and water. When you combine those two elements, you get mud! This describes kapha - it is slow, steady, grounded, nurturing, loving. Our childhood years are the kapha period of life. Kapha is necessary for growth. When out of balance, too much kapha feels like lethargy, tiredness, slow digestion and a sense of heaviness. Kapha lacks fire or heat.
The beautiful things about yoga is that we can change it to suit our current state. To bring us back into balance. Twists can create a gentle amount of internal heat to balance our system. They stimulate our digestion, which can be slow from all the heavy foods we eat in winter time. A restorative, supported twist gently moves the heaviness, allows prana to circulate better but without over stimulating our nervous system.
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better”
The Practice
Reclining Twist with a Bolster
Set up:
Grab a bolster. Sit down so that the right side of your hip is touching one end of the bolster. Turn to face the bolster with your hands on the floor one on either side of the bolster. Bend your elbows as you lower yourself, belly and chest, down on the bolster. Your legs will be turned to the left and curled up comfortably. Look in either direction as long as your neck is comfortable.
Remain for 5 minutes and then switch to the left side.
Prop options:
Blanket under your belly for extra support. Cover yourself if you are chilly.
Being there:
Settle in with a few deep breaths. Fully allow yourself to rest on the bolster.
Benefits:
Unties the physical, emotional and mental knots we twist ourselves into
Allows for space from our fast paced life
Gently stimulates the digestive system
Relieves stress in the back muscles and those along the sides of the body
As you relax, the breathing is enhanced
Contact me today for your personalized yoga therapy session. Let’s work together to help you live in harmony with nature.