Let the Sunshine In!

It’s finally here!

After a record-breakingly wintery winter, spring has finally sprung! The trees are in full bloom, and any second now, they will begin to unfurl their brand new, tender, precious leaves. This is a refreshing, joyous, and intensely hopeful time of year!

Having grown up in Michigan, you would think that I would be accustomed to our long, bleak winters—the way the glory of autumn slips away into them, the way they linger longer than just about anyone thinks they should,  than just about anyone thinks they can bear. But I never cease to be amazed at the sense of relief and delight that comes from those unfurling leaves. Do you know that delight? It’s the sort of delight wherein every cell in the body seems to want to unfurl with them.

The truth is, they do! We live in a time in which technology has made it possible for us to forget (to an extent) the cyclical rhythms of nature and our connection to them. We are able to function on a day-to-day basis in January in much the same way as in July, thanks to electric lighting and heating and cooling systems. But our bodies, our minds, and our hearts still have a connection to the changing of the seasons, and we generally function best when we honor that. So go ahead—let your cells unfurl! Try this:

• Stand barefoot with your feet hip width apart. Press your feet firmly into the ground—outside in the grass is even better!
• Straighten your legs completely. Lift your chest and relax your shoulders. Breathe.
• As you press your feet down, extend your arms out in front of you and swing them up above your head. Feel the connection from your heels on the floor all the way up to your fingertips. Stretch up!
• Then, breathe and stretch up some more!
• Turn your palms away from each other and reeeeeeach through your fingertips as you take your arms out to the side. Lift your chest and expand it as you stretch your arms sideways. Breathe.
• Keep your chest lifted and broad as you bring your arms back down to your sides. Breathe. Notice how you feel now.

One of the traditional texts on yoga speaks of “loosening all the knots that strangle the heart.” When we stretch the body, we make space in the body, and when we stretch the body with awareness, we make space in the mind and the heart as well. In a way, you could say that yoga is unfurling the cells to make space for the soul. Like the dawning of spring, this gives us a sense of freshness, delight, and joy!

Join us at the Yoga Space to sample the delightful and refreshing practice of yoga. Classes are ongoing, drop-ins are welcome. Beginning level classes are offered on Wednesdays at 9am, Thursdays at 5:45pm, and Saturdays at 11:15am. For more details, visit our website and view our Spring 2 Schedule.

Each week one of the teachers at the Yoga Space shares her thoughts and experiences in this blog. Kirsten Brooks is a Teacher-in-Training at The Yoga Space. The Yoga Space is a yoga studio just east of Dexter serving Saline, Chelsea, Manchester and Ann Arbor.  We have been helping people with their flexibility, strength, focus and stress management for over 14 years. We offer a free class the last Friday of each month from 6-7 pm. 180 Little Lake Dr #1 Ann Arbor, MI, 48103. http://yogaspaceannarbor.com 734-622-9600