The energy is picking up and another transition season is upon us.
In Florida, the oak trees have turned an electric green, full of new, young leaves. The spring winds are whistling through the pines. The waters are slowly warming and inviting us back to the beach.
I invite you to pause and bring your attention inward…
What do you notice about the quality of energy in your mind and body?
Is it swirling about? Is it foggy?
Are you feeling irritated, agitated and a little stuck and tired?
Are you feeling inspired with bursts of energy, but not sure what direction to move?
All of these are common experiences of mind and body this time of year. In Chinese medicine, we are entering the season associated with the upward expansion of the wood energy and the liver is the organ that best reflects this energy of movement, direction and expansion. When this energy is not nourished well and/or not moving smoothly, it can lead to imbalances like headaches, more muscle tension, insomnia, irritation/frustration/anger, worsened menstrual symptoms, constipation and more.
To support your mind and body moving into the season, consider the following practices:
Nature
Take your mind and body outdoors to breathe in the fresh, sweet smells of spring, to feel the wind and sun on your face again. Whether it is a walk around the block or to the corner and back or a hike on a favorite trail, take yourself outside for while and notice how that feels.
Exercise
As we move into spring time, we can really harness the upward flow of energy by starting to move our body more frequently and a bit more vigorously than we did through the winter. This might mean getting out walking again, or picking up the speed of your daily walk or bike ride. It might mean adding back more flow to your yoga practice along with the more grounding yin yoga of the winter season. Move until you sweat a bit! This is the bodies natural way of detoxing from winter accumulation and making space for new energy to flow.
The Qi of the season wants to be flowing and we can help ourselves feel more balanced and less irritated by moving more too!
Nutrition
One of the ways we smooth and steady this big energy of spring is by making sure our liver and liver blood are nourished. This is the season to eat fresh local greens, newly sprung from the earth- arugula, kale, lettuce, asparagus, micro-greens as well as beets and beet greens, goji berries. Mint, nettle, chrysanthemum, dandelion and green teas are helpful as well. Adding a lemon squeeze or a drop of a high quality, safe to ingest lemon essential oil to a glass of water first thing in the morning is a great way to gently support detoxing after the winter season.
Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
Chinese medicine has so much support for our Springtime Qi flow. From acupuncture treatments that gently move this increased energy, to herbal formulas that nourish liver blood and liver qi, this medicine is a great support for seasonal imbalances.
Mindfulness
With the changing season and changing energy out there, it is always helpful to have a practice that helps to calm and anchor the mind and body. Here is a grounding mindfulness practice for you to practice with on these busy days when you need a little centering, gathering and grounding for the mind and body.
These grounding mindfulness practices help us to maintain clarity and a sense of ease as the yang energy of the year picks up!