Our nature in Nature

What's Yoga got to do with Nature? Alot! 

The stages of our lives (and our Yoga practices) mirror Nature (called Prakriti in Sanskrit) - yet we resist Nature's seasonal shifts - causing our own nature (called Purusha in Sanskrit) to be one of struggle and distractions. 

Young people want to look mature and mature people want to look young.  We have the lights on at 11pm in Winter, when Nature says we should be tucked up in bed in the dark, conserving our energy. When we learn to accept the shifting seasons, as Nature does, we flow effortlessly from one to the other. 

Here's how our Yoga practice mirrors the shifting seasons - have a think about it next time you're on the mat! 
 
Spring - our birth and development through childhood (our early stretching out in class)
Summer - our abundant adult years (the standing poses in class relate to the years when we "stand on our own two feet") 
Autumn - our children leave home or work/life balance shifts (our seated poses represent our letting go of busyness, giving ourselves time and space)
Winter - we conserve energy, and reflect, with wisdom (meditation or final relaxation)

Next time we see Spring bulbs in flower, notice how some are in bud, some fully out, some hanging their heads - then they fall away to be replaced by Summer ones, the Autumn leaves drop, and in Winter plants go to ground - what can you do to follow Nature's lead?