Yin yoga Sequence for Spring
Best Yin yoga poses for Spring and the Wood Element
Wake up stagnant Wood element energy with Spring Yin
Spring Yin is all about harmonising the element that drives us forward again in life, after the retreating energy of the Winter, the Wood element. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Wood element represents new beginnings, drive, and fresh ideas. Now, after the passive tendencies of Winter, this energy can sometimes be left stagnant and in need of some encouragement to come out of hibernation. The best yin yoga poses for Spring will help you to create space for growth and to blossom. Yin yoga poses for the Wood element invite us to investigate the balance between the desire to move and create. The wood element brings the need to be still and reflect.
Decompress and temper the flow of your emotions
If you relate to characteristics of somebody who finds it difficult to put the breaks on in life, particularly in your working life, then your Wood element may need calming. The Wood element governs the tendons and ligaments in the body via the energy of The Liver. Responsible for the tempering of Qi within the blood that it stores and distributes, we can compare The Liver to a pressure cooker, which to function properly needs its valves regulating.
The best yin yoga poses for spring help to soothe and release stored and unprocessed emotions of anger and frustration, as harmonised Liver energy creates a smooth and even flow of emotions in the body. Excess Wood energy can manifest as an accumulation of tension in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, combined with feelings of impatience and irritability. So work on cultivating acceptance of whatever emotions are arising in your Spring Yin practice and softening into them the best you can.
Find the correct decision to put into action
The paired Yang organ of the Wood element is The Gallbladder. The Gallbladder is related to our ability to make clear and proper judgement. It is involved in our decision making. The Gallbladder assists the Liver in making correct judgements, which the Liver will then put into action.
The symptoms of an imbalanced Gallbladder can be; neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, blurred vision in both a physical and mental sense and the inability to follow through with decisions or the tendency to make poor or rash judgments or both!
Be kind to yourself while working through my Spring Yin sequence, bringing gentle awareness to any inner conflicts that may be arising. From this space of loving-kindness, clarity for the path ahead can often open up before you.
The Liver meridian
Starting on the top of the big toe, the Liver meridian runs up the inner aspect of the leg just in front of the Kidney meridian. Entering into the torso at the groin. It then proceeds to connect with the Wood element’s pertaining organs of the liver and gallbladder, before connecting with the lungs. Continuing up the throat the Liver meridian circles the lips and moves into the corner of the eyes and across the cheeks and forehead.
The Gallbladder meridian
The Gallbladder meridian travels from the outer corner of the eye, where one branch weaves back and forth along the side of the face before curving around behind the ear and down into the shoulder. This branch then continues down through the side body to the outer hips. The internal branch journeys from the cheek, down the neck and through the chest to meet the liver and gallbladder, to then converge at the outer hip. Here, the Gallbladder meridian runs down the outer leg and knee and ends at the fourth toe.
Now you have a better understanding of the energy systems of our fabulous bodies, feel free to click on the link below to practice the Spring detox sequence. It has been placed together carefully, to provide a full balanced programe to allow the Prana / Chi to flow like water.
The sequence has the option for you to press play so you can stay on your mat and flow through it with your beautiful breath. I hope you enjoy and please do leave me some feedback in the comments.
