The Yoga of Spring Cleaning Your Body - April 18, 2010

Spring brings a freshness to the air and to our lives. After our winter hibernation it is wonderful to be out and about in the outdoors. It is also an excellent time to cleanse our bodies, just as we spring clean our houses!

In the Chinese meridian system, which is the foundation of Yin Yoga, acupuncture and shiatsu, the liver is associated with the spring season. The liver regulates our blood. For the health of our overall vitality, we can practice Yin Yoga for the liver and the gall bladder, its corresponding organ.

Meridians, or the lines of energy, of both organs connect with the lungs, which is why we can work on our liver to deal with the allergies brought on by spring blossoms and their pollen. All the lovely flowers and blossoming trees...pretty to look at, yet they drive our systems crazy. Kapahbhati breathing is an excellent way to cleanse the head and lungs.

In addition to allergic responses, some other signs the liver could use some cleaning or fresh energy include feeling lethargic, indigestion or headaches, or if you are feeling irritated or angry. Some helpful yoga poses are seated straddle leg forward folds (see below) or pigeons to help the liver and gall bladder energy move efficiently.

How does Yin Yoga work? We use traditional yoga postures and practice them a bit differently. As we sit and hold poses longer than usual in stillness, muscles relax. The holding affects the lines of energy that connect to internal organs, releasing blocked energy.

Try this pose, either indoors or outdoors. Seated, rooted on your sitz bones, allow your legs to spread to your first comfortable edge. Inhale, and as you exhale, tilt forward from the hips. Then round into the pose, relaxing your legs, your back and your arms. Your chin can even rest on your chest. See how you can breathe and be here for a couple minutes. Imagine your lungs clearing and your liver also receiving energy.

Enjoy being outdoors this Spring!

Namaste' ~ I honor your path.

Debbie in Upavista Konasana, Seated Angle Pose, among the magnolia blossoms.

Extension brings space, space brings freedom, freedom brings precision.

--- B.K.S. Iyengar