Yoga invites us to welcome in change.

We can’t help notice change as spring starts to arrive in Michigan. We change our clocks, change snow boots to sneakers and usually change to an allergy remedy for at least someone in the house. Yoga offers a valuable outlook on change. Instead of planning for it or maneuvering around it, yoga invites us to welcome change in, just as it is.

When we welcome change in, we struggle less. When we struggle less, we have a lower stress response and are generally more peaceful. Here are some spring inspired poses that you can use daily to drop into the experience of living in the present moment no matter what is changing around you.

Root to rise:

Start by planting your feet on the ground. Waking up the feet by spreading the toes and waking up the legs by gently lifting the knees. On an inhale. Lift the arms overhead. On your exhale, bring your arms toward the ground. Repeating the inhale, plant the feet, stand tall and lift the arms. As you take a breath out, lower the torso and arms down. Take as many cycles as feels appropriate each day.

Firmly planted:

Lye down on the back body allowing the shoulders, hips and heels to rest. Taking care to lengthen the neck so the back of the skull rests comfortably. When your body is settled, take an inhale that causes the abdomen or belly to rise. This may take a moment to find. You can always bring your hands to rest on the lower abdomen to give you some feedback. On your exhale, take all the time you need to completely empty the lungs. The inhale is more full than usual and lower than usual. The exhale is more complete. Take as many rounds of abdominal breath as comfortable. Abdominal breath is clinically proven to lower the cortisol or stress response in the body. Take note of how you feel.

Each day, you will notice that your physical body and breath are different. Welcome in that change in too! Finishing any yoga practice with acceptance of how things really are and no judgment or attachment to how they “should” be goes a long way in reducing our struggle. Invitation to practice these yoga poses or any other this spring happily celebrating the changes you find. This wisdom translates off the mat and into our daily life.

Colleen Yeloushan has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation yoga for the better part of two decades. For more information, please visit https://itsallthepath.com/