When I was setting out to find the right name for my Yoga business, âAlignâ felt so right. Not only because of the importance of physical alignment in our Yoga postures, but also (and perhaps more importantly) due to the meaning of âalignedâ as being balanced in mind, body, and spirit.
In Yoga, there is a saying that everything travels from âmicrocosm to Macrocosmâ ; âas within, so withoutâ. When we align ourselves with what we feel within - discovering our true purpose, perhaps- we experience an ease of being in the World that allows us to achieve what we have always known to be true. Staying in alignment with this âinner compassâ, we allow a steadfast version of ourselves to emerge, navigating phases of growth, change, and transformation with grace and ease. The calibration of this compass requires an inner focus and state of presence that grows stronger through our Yoga practice.
Practicing in alignment with the energy of each season involves taking a composite look at our daily rituals and habits. How are we nourishing ourselves? Which Yoga postures are we working with? These are the things we can personalize accordingly. Pranayama (breathing practice) and meditation also deepen our level of self-awareness, furthering our ability to recognize when we have fallen out of balance with our external surroundings, and helping us realize the power we have to self-correct it.
There is a beautiful parallel between the elements of Eastern Medicine and the emotions of our body. When we are feeling a certain way emotionally, there is usually a place in our physical body to practice a posture that can help us synthesize the physical experience we are having with emotions.
We all understand the connection between the feelings of love and happiness and our heart, and we can learn more about staying in touch with ourselves as we recognize the other physical-emotional axises that run throughout our body. The seat of sadness is in our lungs, as grief is tied to our breath. The back of our body relates to the feeling of fear and shock- the âfight or flightâ reflex- ruled by our spine. The Earth element reigns over worry and over-thinking, and relates to our stomach and spleen. This is why a restless mind can overeat, or deplete⊠The energy of our mind requires viable nutrients too! We can be discerning with which thoughts we allow ourselves to âdigestâ.
Connecting with whole, nutrient-dense, seasonally-nurturing foods restores our battery, and blesses us with a sense of being in the World that we are meant and deserve to feel. Everything is connected. How we balance our energy throughout each season depends on what is both within and without.
In the Springtime, we have an abundance of stored energy from the stillness of Winter. Spring is the season ruled by our Liver, which controls our bodyâs cleansing and detoxification. If we feel the sluggish âKaphaâ energy predominating during this time, we look to balance it through the building of internal heat with increased activity. Once the days start stretching themselves out a little longer, we can too; adding more to our schedule, preparing our gardens, refreshing our living spacesâŠ
The transition from Winter to Spring means really taking care of ourselves. During a time when our body is working hard to lighten up, our menu plan should reflect the shift from darkness into light. The salty, savory comfort foods of wintering start to give way to brighter ingredients, and our mood follows suit. Where we once added autumnal spices such as cinnamon and clove, we can start thinking about seasoning meals with ginger, black pepper and lemon.
The nature of Spring is cold and damp. To balance these effects with a seasonal diet, we want to include more dry and warming foods. Spring pasta with lemon juice, pea shoots, garlic and black pepper (pepper is a very warming and nurturing spice) provides comfort on a cold and rainy evening as much as a fresh mango salsa feels bright and alive on a sunny and warm Spring day. Snacks during this time of the year are best eaten light and raw. Tangerines, hummus and carrots, and snap peas are all great options. Take inspiration from the budding green trees and start some sprouts indoors! There are so many reasons why eating more plants is good for both ourselves and our environment.
Spring is the perfect time to enliven ourselves with more fresh & local ingredients. Some of my favorite recipes to enjoy throughout this time of the year include Steamed Broccoli and Jasmine Rice with Black Pepper Tofu, Grilled Asparagus & Strozapretti Pasta with Lemon and Garlic, Yellow Tomato & Arugula Sandwiches with Fresh Sprouts and Balsamic Vinegar, and Greek Falafel night with Hummus and Fresh Pita. For more recipe inspiration, subscribe to my newsletter! And if youâre curious about curating a personalized menu plan together, letâs connect.
As Hippocrates said, âMay food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be food.â
We are what we eat! đ
