13th March by Maura Barber-Oosterhuis

Celebrating Spring

The Spring Equinox (this year on 20th March) has been honoured for millennia as a celebration of balance and potential. With day and night equal, balanced between light and dark, now is a powerful time to consider equilibrium in our lives. I always enjoy playing with balance in my yoga practice and teachings, and love exploring balance between strength and softness, effort and ease, will and acceptance – the list could go on! 

How does balance feel for you right now? Are you ready to leave winter behind? Do you feel ready to emerge, unfurl and open up to spring? This seasonal transition is a potent time for us to reflect, refocus and set our intentions for the months ahead. It is a time for letting go and a time for looking ahead: an end and a beginning.

I hope you are able to create plenty of time and space for yourself. Try to get out in nature as much as you can, find moments to pause within your day, and allow time to consider what it is you need for the coming months. 

I look forward to sharing balance and spring-time themes in upcoming classes, events and retreats, and am particularly excited about our special gathering at stunning Wasing Estate to celebrate Spring Equinox on Thursday 20th March. I love sharing poetry as part of our practice and will certainly include these words by Ben Harper which feel perfect for now.

Balance Poem

by Ben Harper

Too salty? Too Sweet?

Too light? Too dark?

Too loud? Too quiet?

Two things that need careful balance.

Too hard? Too soft?

Too subtle? Too overpowering?

Too much? Too little?

Two things that need careful balance.

It’s art, and it’s science

It’s skill, and its’ talent

It’s experience, and beginner’s luck

It’s trial and error, and it’s just dropping on it the first time.

Big changes, little tweaks, intentional and accidental

Balance is to be found in all of these ways

They call it a ‘balancing act’; a performance to perfect

That needs all of our attention, yet demands we inhabit it so well that we hardly know we’re doing it

The pulling in opposite directions, creates a push towards a mid point

The up competes with the down,

The high complements the low

Seek, and you will find

Lose and you will gain

Work hard for it, and you will rest

Rest well, and you will stumble upon the perfect blend of the wonderfully contrasting, ever conflicted, never ending possibilities.

Balance.

Enjoy spring-time! Maura xx