Spring rarely arrives all at once.
At first the change is subtle. The light lingers a little longer in the evening. The air softens. Snow slowly disappears from the edges of paths and fields. Small green shoots push gently through the earth.
Nature awakens gradually.

In yoga philosophy, this quiet transition mirrors something deeply familiar within us. Our bodies, emotions and energy also move through cycles of rest, integration, growth and renewal.
Spring reminds us that awakening is about remembering life already moving within us and not starting from zero.

Living in cycles rather than straight lines

Modern culture often encourages us to think in straight lines: constant progress, constant improvement, constant productivity. But nature works differently. There are times for growth and expansion. And there are times for rest, stillness and reflection. Winter represents the inward phase of this cycle.
During winter the body naturally slows down. Energy moves inward. Many people feel the desire to sleep longer, reflect more and move less.
Spring marks the beginning of a new outward movement.
Yet this shift does not happen overnight. It unfolds slowly, just as the earth warms gradually after winter. Yoga teaches us to respect these rhythms. Because when we align with natural cycles instead of resisting them, practice becomes less about forcing and more about listening.

The Wood element: energy rising

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the season of spring is associated with the Wood element. Wood symbolizes growth, creativity and expansion. It’s the moment where potential begins to take form and where what has been quietly developing beneath the surface starts to manifest. Just as a seed grows upward through the soil toward the light, the energy of this season moves upward and outward. This energy is vibrant, creative and alive. It is the force that makes trees grow taller, flowers bloom and life multiply after winter’s stillness.

Inside the body, the Wood element is connected with the liver and gallbladder organs. In TCM philosophy, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of qi – the life force energy – throughout the body. When this flow is free and balanced, we experience clarity, creativity and direction. When energy becomes blocked or stagnant, frustration and tension may arise. In this way, spring is not only a season of growth but also a time to release what has become stuck during the colder months.

Yoga and the energy of upward movement

Yoga philosophy describes something similar through the concept of Udana Vayu, which is one of the five movements of prana in the body. While Apana moves downward and grounding, Udana moves upward, supporting expression, creativity and expansion.
It governs the throat, the head and our ability to express ourselves in the world. Just like the Wood element in TCM, Udana Vayu carries the quality of rising energy. It is the movement that lifts the chest in backbends, that carries the breath upward during inhalation and that supports our ability to speak, create and connect. In spring we may begin to feel this upward movement naturally.
Our bodies want to stretch more. Our minds begin to imagine new possibilities. Ideas that quietly formed during winter may begin to seek expression. You may feel a desire to begin something new, initiate a project or shift aspects of your daily life.

The role of self-study

In yoga philosophy this moment of transition invites the practice of Svadhyaya = self-study, reflection (the fourth Niyama in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras). It asks us to observe ourselves honestly and with curiosity: what is changing inside you as winter shifts into spring?
Perhaps you notice a renewed desire for movement. Perhaps your energy begins to return. Perhaps new ideas or goals are slowly taking shape. Or maybe you still feel the need for rest. Both are part of the cycle. Spring does not demand that we suddenly become productive or energetic, but instead to notice what is awakening naturally.

Planning and action

In TCM philosophy the gallbladder is considered the organ of vision and decision-making. It helps us imagine possibilities and set intentions. The liver then helps turn these visions into action by ensuring the smooth flow of energy needed to move forward.
Winter may have been a time of dreaming, reflecting and planting seeds of intention. And now, spring is the moment when those seeds begin to grow. Not through force, but through clear direction and gentle action.

Beginning again

Every time we step onto a yoga mat, we practice beginning again.
A new breath. A new movement. A new moment of awareness.
Spring simply reminds us that this process is always available.
We do not have to wait for a new year, a new goal or a perfect moment to begin again. Sometimes the simplest beginning is enough: a deep breath, a stretch toward the sky, a quiet moment of presence. Just like the first green shoot appearing after winter, growth often begins in the smallest ways. And perhaps this season invites not only action, but also expression, so allowing what has been held inside to move, to be felt and to take form in your own unique way.
And maybe after reading this post you feel like sharing, how this season is showing up for you. I’d love to hear about it, so just let me know in the comments below.