//Supta Matsyendrasana: Reclined Twist

Spring is upon us.  I am not sure about the rest of you, but winter seemed to linger a bit longer than was welcome in this household.  The stagnant air hanging about the hallways and the clouds from the Pacific lingering close to the dampened earth, perpetuating a state of grey and creating a sense of staleness.  I am ready for beginnings again, and just in time, they are here.  I sense them as I take my morning walks.  The birds are in full chorus and the perennials are bravely popping out of the chilled soil sprinkled from the rain. It feels fresh, clean, and full of possibilities.

Nonetheless, beginnings are a fragile business. We can see this truth in the world around us.  Seedlings hang close to the warm blanket of the earth and take comfort in her nutrients while trying desperately to root and create a system of sustaining and maintaining its growth in collaboration with its surroundings. All the while, facing the inevitable digressions of bad weather, other creatures invasions, and lack of sustenance.  If not for the haven of earth’s soil, the miracle of rain, and the power of the sun, life and progress would not be possible for this little plant.  Just like the seedling, our beginnings are just as fragile, not just the beginning of our life, but all the little beginnings we take through our life. It is essential that we create a suitable place in our body, mind, and environment to nurture our becoming. There are two essential elements to this movement: a sense of grounding and a sense of release. With these two pieces in place we can create a confident space for transformation and possibility.