Yoga Class Themes For Spring
Springtime is a time to reawaken the body from a sleepy, often sluggish winter. It’s a time of renewal, cleansing, and balance. These yoga class themes are perfect for getting energy moving in spring.
Planting Seeds:
Winter is a time of quiet contemplation, while spring is a time to plant seeds and grow your future. Take a moment in meditation at the beginning of class to decide what you are manifesting - what seeds you are planting. Throughout the practice, remind yourself of this and envision what your life will look like once you have grown or manifested the things you desire.
Some poses that could work well in this class would be Tree pose, any grounding poses such as Malasana or Goddess, and poses with arms actively reaching upwards as if blooming as in standing backbend, Urdhva Hastasana, Crescent Lunge, Warrior 1, or Hanumanasana.
Spring Cleaning:
As the weather warms up, it is necessary to clear away the cobwebs from our homes and bodies. What better way to do that than with a detoxifying yoga class?
This theme would work well in a dynamic yoga class that includes intensifying levels of twists, such as supine twist, lunge twist, Marichyasana B & D, Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, Parivrtta Trikonasana, Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (basically anything Parivrtta, or Revolved), Ardha Matsyendrasana, possibly working your way up to side crow or Eka Pada Koundinyasana I depending on the level of the class. This could also work well in a yin or restorative class with a focus in twisting, poses that move breath into the belly, and other detoxifying poses such as wind removing pose (Pavanamuktasana).
Bloom When You Are Ready:
Nature doesn’t hurry - and neither should you. Throughout this practice, slow down each and every transition in order to feel exactly what muscles are firing and exactly what the breath is doing as you move. Let every action take longer than usual, like a lotus flower reaching through layers of mud before it’s finally ready to bloom.
This class theme could incorporate styles like Budokon yoga where the focus is on the transition and not the pose itself. Movements like flowering lotus or cobra roll would fit the theme beautifully. Slow movements such as tai chi could also be incorporated, or slowly moving from poses like reverse warrior into extended side angle could achieve this theme.
Rise with the Sun:
This class theme takes inspiration from the Native American Medicine Wheel, where the wheel is divided into four sections that represent each of the Four Directions. East is the direction that yoga is traditionally practiced in to honor the rising sun, and East also happens to be the direction that represents springtime. The energy of the East is that of springtime, birth, the element fire, the rising sun. East moves us into action.
Poses that could work well in this class are poses that use big muscles such as the glutes and quads and inspire forward moving action, such as Warrior poses, lunges, and Chair pose. Poses that connect to the element of fire or create internal heat would also work well - this could include twists, abdominal exercises, Navasana, plank pose, and pranayama such as Kapalabhati, Uddiyana, or Nauli.
Phoenix:
Still taking inspiration from the Medicine Wheel, a class themed around the Phoenix is perfect for spring because the direction East not only is connected to the fire element, but for many tribes it also is represented by winged animals such as owls, hummingbirds, and hawks. The Phoenix is a mythical bird that goes up in flames, only to be reborn from the ashes. Practice with a spirit of renewal, rebirth, and tapas or spiritual heat.
Poses that would work well in this practice are bird themed poses such as Garudasana (Eagle pose), Bakasana (Crow pose), any of the pigeon themed poses such as Kapotasana (Pigeon, a deep backbend entered from Camel pose), Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (one legged king pigeon, a hip opening and backbending posture), Rajakapotasana (King Pigeon, a deep backbend with both feet reaching towards or touching the head). Any poses that ignite tapas or connect to the element of fire would work well here too.
Honor the Earth:
A yoga practice that inspires love for the earth is perfect for Earth Day. This could be centered around ways to be more sustainable, gratitude for the Earth, or appreciation for the beauty of the Earth.
Poses that would work well in this class are grounding poses such as Malasana, Goddess, Chair, Tadasana or Mountain pose, and Vrksasana or Tree Pose. If the practice is centered around sustainability, warrior poses represent the strength it takes to make the necessary changes to save the planet. If the practice is centered around gratitude or appreciation for the beauty of the Earth, heart opening poses and poses where hands are touching the Earth would fit the theme.
Honor the Mother:
An empowering practice that ignites the goddess within is appropriate around Mother’s Day. Embody each of the aspects of the mother - devoted, loving, fierce, protective, creative, divine, invincible. These divine qualities are in each of us, whether or not we are mothers.
Poses that would work well in this practice would be Goddess Pose, hip opening poses that open the sacral chakra - our creative center - such as Baddha Konasana, Malasana, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, or Hanumanasana, heart opening poses that inspire gratitude such as Ustrasana (camel) or Natarajasana (dancer’s pose).