Spring is the time to be reborn and flourish, a time of the year to ‘rise early with the sun’ and take ‘brisk walks’, which as the Inner Classic, an ancient Chinese text, reminds us are the outward (yang) activities reflecting the rising and active energy of Spring. The birds sing, plant life starts to push upwards, tender green shoots can be seen everywhere and the days become lighter and longer. 

In turn we start to feel these energies within ourselves, a need to move out of hibernation and shrug of the inertia from the winter months. This juncture of time is considered one of the most optimal to clean and detoxify both body and mind. Ayurveda’s Panchakarma system offers a wonderful way to eliminate toxins, balance the doshas and release stagnation in the tissues and organ system of the body.

According to Ayurveda Springtime is marked as ‘Kapha’ time, which has been prevalent since the Winter season. Allergies, asthma, sinus infections, colds arise with excess kapha. Invigorating and heating practices will help to melt this ‘inner snow’. Soak up the sun when you can. Choose lighter and drier foods that are bitter and pungent, spices such as black pepper, ginger, fresh nutmeg, thyme, sage, turmeric.

Trikatu prepared from black pepper, pippali, ginger is an ancient herbal preparation that increases digestion and aids in removing toxins. To move lymph and increase circulation before bathing or showering ‘dry body brush’ with a long handled natural bristle brush. Use stroking movements upwards from the feet, remembering to always brush towards the heart. ‘Jala Neti’, cleansing the nasal passages with water helps to keep the sinus’ clear and prevent seasonal allergies. Seasonal essential oils include clearing and stimulating, such as eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, rosewood.

It is the optimum time of year for offering our Yoga to more energising ‘Solar’ practice, which opens to the sun, the soul of our being. The classic vinyasa Surya Namaskar does this beautifully. The marriage of breath with movement generates heat, raises the heart rhythm, moves lymph, increases circulation, stokes our core strength, all assisting with our inner Spring cleaning. Practised mindfully it focus’ the mind, creates a sense of inner strength and spaciousness. We feel a greater sense of vitality and clarity of vision. Stimulating pranayama practice Kapalabhati can be enjoyed too. 

The Spring season is associated with the ‘Wood’ element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which houses both the ‘liver and gallbladder’. They store blood and regulate the qi. The liver is comparable to an ‘army general’ who is responsible for the overall planning or strategy. In the body the liver manifests itself in the nails and ligaments of the body. It opens into the eyes and houses the ethereal soul. 

The gall bladder is the ‘officer in charge’ of making decisions and responsible for storing and excreting bile. This capacity of the gall bladder to make decisions links well to the liver’s capacity to plan one’s life. 

The liver likes to be moved and stretched, keeping us smooth flowing and connected to our creative flow. Walking is the activity of the liver which helps to spread and harmonise its energy, bringing balance to thoughts and emotions. Yoga asanas specifically for the Liver include cat, dog, malasana, bridge, cobra, gate pose, boat pose and many more!

The flavours sour and bitter assist gentle detoxification of these organs and the colour pertaining to the wood element is green.

A great way to start the day is drinking a glass of hot water with a generous slice of lemon squeezed in. This helps to flush the toxins through the body. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, either as herbal teas, green tea or steep some fresh ginger root in hot water, wonderful for warming the digestion. Young nettle tops, known as the herb of the 90’s! is a light spring tonic and cleavers helps decongest and move the lymph. Pungent flavoured herbs such as, basil, marjoram, rosemary, bay leaf work well in the spring. Milk thistle is an antioxidant for the liver and a tonic.

Internally, we start to feel the need for lighter foods, introduce dark green leafy vegetables for the bitter taste, spring greens, kale, broccoli, collard greens and spinach, live sprouts, quinoa. Add to smoothies, soups, salads, stir fries. Spices such as fresh nutmeg work well with Spring greens. Watercress, beetroot and the ‘sea vegetable’ wakame are all wonderful blood cleansers, raw sprouted foods are an excellent source of live enzymes for the liver. Use ghee (clarified butter) which boosts Ojas, our immune system. Buy Organic!

Essential fats are vital in our diets and in particular for the smooth functioning of the liver. Dietary sources include whole grains, oily fish, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, chia, almonds, walnuts, eggs, darks green leafy. Try Infinity Foods Organic Four Seed Mix (pumpkin, sunflower, golden linseeds, sesame). Add chia seeds to the mix, blend in a food processor until almost a powder. Store in the fridge. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon on to porridge, add to smoothies, salads, veggies each day. 

Traditionally, this is the time for a spring clean both internally and externally. The ancient art of 'feng shui', the art of placement, in essence teaches us the importance of the harmony between ourselves within our living environment. 

Our homes are a natural extension of who we are, so spend some time decluttering. Freshen up any rooms with a change of colour, rearrange the furniture and clean the windows to allow the spring energy to flow in. This will help to focus the mind paving way for new. 

In Conclusion, the emotions of the liver and gallbladder are associated with anger, frustration and indecisiveness. In balance the sour taste engenders growth and creativity, the liver expresses our creativity and we are naturally creative within our own self expression. Nurture your creativity, develop it from the seeds sown in Spring and keep it open and flowing through your Yoga practice and life. 

Meditate daily, find a thread of balance and stillness through body, breath, mind and soul. Sit comfortably, focus on the tidal rhythm of your own breath. Relax into this for a few minutes and then start to hear the sound of the breath, the sound of Nature, the mantra So’hum.

Inhale and mentally hear the mantra ‘So’ and exhale mentally hear the mantra ‘hum’.  

Once the so’hum rhythm has been established, contemplate on the meaning. As you inhale ‘so’ say to yourself ‘I am’, connecting to your essential self. Contemplate the source of your breath. Where is your breath coming from? Through visualisation reflect upon the earth and nature being fed by the same tidal rhythm of the breath. 

As you exhale ‘hum’ inwardly say ‘all that is’ feel your exhalation releasing you into the expanse around you. Visualise your exhalation leaving your body through the nostrils and then merging back into the atmosphere, back into infinity, back into ‘all that is’.

When you are ready to complete your meditation bring your hands into Anjali mudra, bow and close with a moment of gratitude, reflection or prayer to absorb the energy of your meditation into your being and life. 

Designed & Created by David Holland