Extend, Express and Blossom!
So long seems the winter, dark and cold it often feels like an endless journey counting the days until the spring. Yet winter is a restorative season, restorative postures focus our energy inward, preparing us to evolve and blossom when the sun hits. Our bodies awaken and extend, our spirits renewed with the joy and hope of the coming season. In our yoga practice we think of the extension in triangle, and the graciousness as we bend gently to offer a flower to the Lord.
Spring is the season of growth, and expression. The fifth chakra, also known as the throat chakra or Vishudda governs our creativity, expression, and communication. Just like the flowers and the trees blossom and share their colors and beauty, so too should we extend our voices, our talents, and our wisdom. The quote from Nelson Mandela below validates the importance of reaching beyond ourselves, despite whatever fears or insecurities we may have, and sharing that which makes us special with the world. In turn, the world releases it’s barriers and shares it’s gifts with us.
“Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people premission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Nelson Mandela
