“Fluidity and discontinuity are central to the reality in which we live.”

-Mary Catherine Bateson

Weekly Focus: Kapha (water / earth element)

Kapha is the ayurvedic element of earth and water. Earth is grounding and stabilizing, a helpful energy to tap into during times of transition, such as the change of seasons outside or the seasons of our lives. Water though is fluid and adaptable, which reminds us not to dig in too deep, but to find flow with life around us.

Kapha is highly present during the Spring season. Heavy rains, wet earth, dampness, cool mornings and evenings, all qualities of kapha that are present in the Spring season. Kapha is heavy, slow and fluid in nature. We turn to kapha this week as reminder and inspiration. When we experience transition or change of any sort in life, it is important to feel grounded and steady. The act of standing outside barefoot, sitting on the floor, taking heavy breaths, can all help connect us to this earthy energy. This grounding can help us find footing, to not feel like we are being pulled in many directions, and to have space to think clearly.

However, kapha is also watery. Water flows, it is a shape shifter, and it cleanses. It is important not to stay rigid and resist change, but to allow ourselves to find flow with it. We don’t have to rush through, but we can cleanse what was before, and hold space for what is coming. This ability to find flow in life helps us to be more adaptable and open-minded to the unpredictable shifts natural to being a human on this earth. We cannot control the changes around us, but we can adjust how we react and adapt.

Here is a simple practice in connecting to kapha:

1. Find a grassy spot outside — stand outside barefoot, or even better, lie down in the grass. Make sure you are warm, close your eyes, and focus on the feeling on the earth supporting you, holding you – every sensation that you feel as earth touches skin.
2. Take deep breaths — begin to take long slow breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you do, imgine the breath like water, flowing over your body with each exhale and cleansing away old, stale energy.
3. Observe — relax the body and release any control of your thoughts or your breath. Just let your self settle. Notice what you observe in the body, the mind, and the breath.

Passive Pose of the Week: Mrigasana (deer pose)

This gentle twist allows for a feeling of release in the spine and the hips. It’s relationship to the floor let’s the body feel earthy and heavy, and you might find some gentle windshield wiper movement with the legs tapping into water as you arrive in this shape. 

• Begin sitting on the floor with the legs straight out in front of you.
• Bend the knees up towards the ceiling with the foot planted on the floor. With the hands behind you as a support, begin to drop the knees left and right, like a windshiel wiper. Take this for a few rounds.
• When you knees drop to the right, pause. Adjust your legs so they are both at about a 90 degree angle.
• Turn your chest to face the thigh of the right leg and start to fold forward over the leg. Head, forearms or hands may rest on the ground. Lower to the point that feels comfortable.
• If the ground feels far away, consider bringing a blanket, bolster or pillow beneath the body. 
• Take about [7] breaths here before lifting up and switching sides. 

Mrigasana is a pretty gentle pose. It’s a position that we may be able to linger in for a long time, especially with the support of props. If you want to turn this position into a deeper hip stretch, rather than turing your chest towards your right thigh, turn it diretly facing the right shin and fold forward from there. This position will give a stretch sensation similar to a pigeon pose. Remember to add in any props that might make the pose more sustainable!

Active Pose of the Week: Bhujangasana (cobra pose)