5 Ways to Celebrate the Spring Equinox 2018

In the northern hemisphere, the Spring Equinox occurs on Tuesday, March 20th. It is the date where both day and night are equal in length. Spring is traditionally a time of rebirth, fertility, and balance. Spring brings new energy and balance both in nature and in people. You may be feeling inspired as all the new life begins to awaken in nature around us.

The theme of balance in spring is very interesting. The fact that there is equal light and darkness on the Spring Equinox speaks to this balance. Yin and Yang. Spring is considered a Kapha time of year, based on Ayurveda. Balancing Kapha is very important and by celebrating spring in the following ways, it can help you in doing so.

Spring Clean

Spring cleaning can be emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Start with decluttering your surroundings, then shift to decluttering your mind and spirit. What no longer serves you? A great book to read at this time is, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. In book, Kondo asks you to pick up every object and ask yourself, “Does this give me joy?” I tried this method a few years back with my book collection. I was surprised to let go of a few titles when I discovered that they did not give me joy anymore. You can ask the same question when it comes to emotional and spiritual clutter: Does this bring me joy? If the answer is no, then perhaps it is time to let it go and make room for new things to enter into your life. Physically, attending our Spring Cleaning: A Yin Trilogy with Kari Morgan, is an excellent way to shift energy in your body and prepare for spring.

Create a New Intention

If you set intentions at the beginning of the year, do those same intentions still serve you or do you feel compelled to set new ones? Setting intentions seasonally, rather than annually gives you more freedom to be inspired by the rhythms in your life and nature. Planting new seeds to nurture emotionally is a great way to use the power of spring to enhance your life. It can be a simple declaration: “I choose to live my life to the fullest this spring!” Then ask yourself everyday, what is the one thing I can do today that would make my day full of life? For me, taking my dogs out for a walk in nature daily, allows me to feel like I am living life to the fullest. Our 40 Days to Personal Revolution is another fantastic way to set intentions, you can sign up now and begin the journey in April.

Try Something New

Let your intuition guide you into trying something new. Newness surrounds us in the springtime. There are New buds on the trees, tulips and daffodils are springing to life: new life is surrounding us. Have you ever wanted to paint? Try a Paintnite! Always wanted your own mala beads? Join us for the Mala Making Workshop! Never tried Kundalini yoga? Spring is the perfect time to attend Kundalini AromaFlow Tuesday afternoons.

Move More

There is a tradition among yogis to perform 108 sun salutations on the Spring Equinox. If that sounds too intense, try adding a heated class to your yoga routine or go to one of the indoor cycling classes. Spring is the time to rev up your body after months of hibernation in the winter. Shake off winter with high energy classes, then balance that with yin classes. Move more outside. After a winter of hibernation it is time to take your body out into nature. Reconnect with the world around you as it is renewed.

Create Routines

Spring is a time of change, having routines will help with balance. The weather one day will be warm then the next day it will be cold. Having established morning and evening routines will help you have the balance when the weather is chaotic. Beginning your days early in the morning is easier as the sun rises earlier in the springtime. Try adding an Ayurvedic recommendation, like tongue scraping to your morning routine. I started scraping my tongue every morning a few months ago and I love that my mouth feels cleaner all day long. By summer, if you add one or two things to your routines, those things will be habits that will stick with you.

How will you celebrate the Spring Equinox this year? We invite you to share your celebrations with us on social media. Twitter: @HalifaxYoga ‏| Instagram |Facebook

About Raechelle Masuda

Yoga has become an important part of Raechelle’s life, and her practice has helped her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. Raechelle is passionate about her family, writing, being active, reading and adventure. She started out part of Halifax Yoga’s Energy Exchange, then joined HY’s Yoga Teacher Training in the Fall of 2017. She is now the assistant manager at Halifax Yoga and is excited to share her passions and inspirations.