Spring to Summer
From the end of April to mid-June in the Northern Hemisphere
and From the end of October to mid-December in the Southern Hemisphere
Spring to summer is a time of blossoming and unfolding. It is the height of the growing season, a fertile time, when whatever you unite your energy with will expand and grow. This is the perfect time to grow your yoga practice.
Between now and the Summer Solstice the Sun will reach the fullness of its waxing cycle, and then at the solstice the light will begin to wane again. So, we want to make the most of this short-lived fertile energy. Our focus, between now and the Summer Solstice, is on outward achievements and action. Like a gardener, we decide which seeds to nurture so that they grow into strong and
healthy plants. We decide which saplings to weed out to make space for our chosen plants to grow. Now is the time to bring your projects and ventures out into the light and watch them flourish.
Between now and the Summer Solstice the Sun will reach the fullness of its waxing cycle, and then at the solstice the light will begin to wane again. So, we want to make the most of this short-lived fertile energy. Our focus, between now and the Summer Solstice, is on outward achievements and action. Like a gardener, we decide which seeds to nurture so that they grow into strong and
healthy plants. We decide which saplings to weed out to make space for our chosen plants to grow. Now is the time to bring your projects and ventures out into the light and watch them flourish.
Celebrating the Dance of Life
In Hindu tradition the world is danced into being by gods and goddesses. As spring changes to summer, nature is dancing a sensual dance of creation, and the world is coming in to bloom. Now is the time to dance your light into being, manifesting it in the world.
In many cultures the arrival of summer, and its ensuing fertility, was celebrated through dance ritual. Dancing around the Maypole is a tradition that expresses the joyful, exuberance of the season. The Maypole is said to symbolise the masculine aspect of god, and
the colourful ribbons to symbolise the feminine aspect, and the dance is their blissful union. This is a good time of year to incorporate elements of dance into your yoga practice.
Dance is sensual and can be a great way of getting your creative juices flowing. Yoga and dance combine to make great partners. Try using dance as a warm-up for your yoga practice. Put on your favourite dance music and just allow yourself to be danced. Make this
into a dancing meditation by focussing your awareness on the sound of the music, the sensations of your body moving, and the dance of your own breath. Feel those happy hormones soar! Flowing yoga sequences (vinyasa) also have a very dance-like quality. The Salute to the Sun (Surya Namaskar) is a fiery sun-dance, combining wave-like movements with breath awareness. The Dancer Pose (Natarajasana) is of course the perfect asana to include in your dance inspired vinyasa.
In many cultures the arrival of summer, and its ensuing fertility, was celebrated through dance ritual. Dancing around the Maypole is a tradition that expresses the joyful, exuberance of the season. The Maypole is said to symbolise the masculine aspect of god, and
the colourful ribbons to symbolise the feminine aspect, and the dance is their blissful union. This is a good time of year to incorporate elements of dance into your yoga practice.
Dance is sensual and can be a great way of getting your creative juices flowing. Yoga and dance combine to make great partners. Try using dance as a warm-up for your yoga practice. Put on your favourite dance music and just allow yourself to be danced. Make this
into a dancing meditation by focussing your awareness on the sound of the music, the sensations of your body moving, and the dance of your own breath. Feel those happy hormones soar! Flowing yoga sequences (vinyasa) also have a very dance-like quality. The Salute to the Sun (Surya Namaskar) is a fiery sun-dance, combining wave-like movements with breath awareness. The Dancer Pose (Natarajasana) is of course the perfect asana to include in your dance inspired vinyasa.
Tree Wisdom Spring to Summer
Spring to summer is a time of blossoming. Trees offer us the perfect way of connecting to the beauty that is blossoming during this season.
When you are out and about be on the lookout for trees in blossom and take a few moments mindfully to enjoy the tree’s beauty. Use all five senses to appreciate this precious moment; enjoy the colours, textures, smells, and sounds of the scene. Look closely at an individual blossom flower and observe the intricacy of its construction. Close your eyes and picture the tree in blossom and then open your eyes and look at the tree again. Recall the image later in your day to induce a sense of calm contemplation.
One day last spring I was walking through parkland, bordered by some wasteland that used to be the town rubbish tip, and a young apple tree bathed in sunshine caught my eye. I’d never noticed this little tree before, but it looked so beautiful in full blossom glowing golden in the sunshine. It seemed poignant to me that such beauty could grow out of the ugliness of what had been a rubbish dump. This tree taught me about staying effortlessly in touch with that which is light, pure, beautiful, and graceful within, and how it is possible to blossom even in a world that is neither perfect nor pure.This inspired me to write my Meditation Upon an Apple Tree is Blossom which is included in the Yoga Through the Year book.
When you are out and about be on the lookout for trees in blossom and take a few moments mindfully to enjoy the tree’s beauty. Use all five senses to appreciate this precious moment; enjoy the colours, textures, smells, and sounds of the scene. Look closely at an individual blossom flower and observe the intricacy of its construction. Close your eyes and picture the tree in blossom and then open your eyes and look at the tree again. Recall the image later in your day to induce a sense of calm contemplation.
One day last spring I was walking through parkland, bordered by some wasteland that used to be the town rubbish tip, and a young apple tree bathed in sunshine caught my eye. I’d never noticed this little tree before, but it looked so beautiful in full blossom glowing golden in the sunshine. It seemed poignant to me that such beauty could grow out of the ugliness of what had been a rubbish dump. This tree taught me about staying effortlessly in touch with that which is light, pure, beautiful, and graceful within, and how it is possible to blossom even in a world that is neither perfect nor pure.This inspired me to write my Meditation Upon an Apple Tree is Blossom which is included in the Yoga Through the Year book.
Spring to Summer Meditation Questions
The spring to summer is a time of blossoming.
- What do I wish to grow and blossom in my life at this time?
- Who helps me to blossom and fulfil my potential?
- Who do I feel passionate about? Who lights my fire? Who inspires me?
- Which projects do I want to grow and blossom?
- How will I enjoy the beauty of the season using all my senses? How will I fall in love with life again?
Yoga Through the Year Book
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In the Spring to Summer chapter of the Yoga Through the Year book you will also find:
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