As spring breathes new life into the world around us, many of us feel a natural inclination to refresh and renew. This season isn’t just about clearing out our wardrobes or dusting the corners of our homes; it’s an opportunity to cleanse our inner world as well. At This Is Yoga Sydney, we believe that just as nature shifts and blossoms, so too can our minds, bodies, and spirits. With the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda guiding us, spring offers a powerful time to release the heaviness of winter and embrace a lighter, more vibrant energy. In this blog, we’ll explore how spiritual spring cleaning can help you align with the season’s renewing energy, setting the stage for a summer filled with vitality and purpose.
If you’re feeling inspired to shift and change with the renewing energy of spring, you’re definitely not alone. As the days grow longer, we’re naturally inclined to mimic Mother Earth and lighten our energetic field.
But if you think spring cleaning is simply dusting shelves and clearing out wardrobes, think again. The practice of connecting to the season dates back thousands of years. In the science of Ayurveda, early spring is considered kapha season—a time when the elements of water and earth are at their strongest. As we shift towards late spring, we transition into fiery pitta season and are called to burn away the heavy, dense energies of kapha.
The inner shifts we feel with these changing seasons are instinctual, although for most of us, spring cleaning nowadays is more superficial. Clearing our physical spaces is an important part of mental well-being, but what about spring cleaning our spiritual and emotional bodies? Just as we clear our wardrobes of clothes that don’t fit or simply no longer inspire us, we need to regularly evaluate and tend to our mental and emotional bodies.
What is spiritual spring cleaning?
The practice of spiritual spring cleaning can prepare us for the high energy of summer and enable us to feel more capable of accomplishing our dreams and our dharma. Start, as you would when cleaning, by looking at what is already present. Are there any recent life shifts that still need to be integrated? Do you have visions for the future that you’re ready to start creating? By working with your mental body, known as the manomaya kosha, in this way, you’re able to feel present rather than existing from the stories of the past and future. You train your mind to slow down and fully experience life rather than coasting through it.
After practising some of the approaches below, you may notice you’re feeling more receptive to the energies of spring. Hopefully, that newfound sense of openness can carry on through your day-to-day life, leaving you feeling more light-hearted and able to experience pleasure. If you’re interested in giving it a try, here are three easy practices for spiritual spring cleaning.
3 practices for spiritual spring cleaning
1. Embodiment with ecstatic dance
Ecstatic dance is a similar yet very different release compared to the more structured practice of yoga and serves to get you into your body and out of your head through a different approach. Unlike the aligned form of yoga asanas, ecstatic dance is all about uninhibited movement and the full expression of emotions.
To practise, set yourself up in a space where you feel comfortable and can move freely. Turn on music that has a strong beat. Traditional drumming or electronic music are both common choices. You want music that can help initiate a hypnotic headspace. Music with strong repetition guides you into a trance state, where you’ll be able to move more freely and think less. Alternatively, you can turn on any music that lifts your spirit and makes you want to move.
Close your eyes and let your body guide you. Try not to worry too much about what you look like or if you’re doing it “right.” Just move in whatever way feels good to you. This kind of physical embodiment is an accessible and fun way to practise mindfulness and work through emotions. Plus, movement is a natural way to release endorphins, which increase your energy.
2. Cord-cutting meditation
If you feel like you’re giving too much energy away and never have time to refill your own cup, then a cord-cutting meditation may be able to help. In this form of meditation, you visualise all the many ways your energy is being drawn away from you, whether it’s a situation or a person. Then, through focused breathing and visualisation, you release what you no longer need, “cut the cord,” and draw your energy back to you.
3. Always remember joy
We spend so much time trying to be productive or squeeze value out of every bit of our day. When was the last time you did something just for fun? Go to an arcade. Paint a picture. Host a game night with your loved ones. Activities that bring you pleasure give you a boost of serotonin, the “happy hormone” that helps regulate your mood. (Too little serotonin is often linked to psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and low self-esteem.) Include these things as a regular part of life rather than something that happens only occasionally. Prioritise your happiness and give yourself permission to do something you’ve been wanting to try!
Spring is a time of transformation and growth, a chance to shed what no longer serves us and welcome in fresh energy. By integrating spiritual spring cleaning practices like ecstatic dance, cord-cutting meditations, and prioritising joy, you can clear the way for new possibilities and a deeper connection to yourself. At This Is Yoga Sydney, we’re here to support your journey through every season. Embrace the spring energy, and let it inspire you to nurture your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. If you’re ready to deepen your practice, join us in the studio or explore our workshops designed to help you grow and thrive year-round.
Original article - Yoga Journal