From the end of January to the middle of March, in the Northern Hemisphere, is the time in the year when winter moves into spring. You start to notice that there is a little more daylight and the occasional green shoot poking up through the soil. The air starts to get a little bit warmer and maybe you start to feel a bit more energetic too.

It is the time of year that you can let go of the old and welcome the newness of life. A time to harness the returning energy of the sun to be able to bring the daydreams of your winter hibernation into reality. It is the time for new beginnings.

The sun is returning

You may feel like you haven’t shaken off your winter cloak and emerged from your cave that you have been hiding in over the past few months, but things are changing. Maybe you can feel it, sense it. You are once more at the start of another growth season. From now until the summer solstice - in June - the light continues to grow and expand. Giving warmth and energy to everything in the Northern Hemisphere. This is because the sun is in its waxing phase - its growing phase.

Energetically, things are changing. Yin moves to Yang, water to fire, dark to light, inner to outer and contemplation to action.

This is the time that you can start to grow and expand too. The projects and dreams that you put on hold during autumn and winter can be brought out again, to absorb the heat of the sun, grow and take shape.

Embracing the returning energy and planting some seeds

The world is waking up, maybe you have noticed the green shoots in the soil or on the tree branches. Soon they will grow producing blossoms and flowers. It might be that you can notice similar changes happening within yourself as well.

Some of you might be feeling ready to explode into action, whereas others might still feel the need to shake off the lethargy of winter. How you transition into Spring is what feels right for you this year. Let go of what has happened in previous years and move in a way that is authentic to you. You will know if you have it right as it will feel appropriate and correct. If you feel like you’re fighting against something then you probably need to pause, look at how you are emerging and maybe take a different approach.

This is the time to get creative. You might want to get out your colouring pencils and mindful colouring books, bake a cake (I am a welcome taste tester if you need one!), decorate a room, finish those half-done craft projects, or just move your body with a sense of exploration and fun.

It is also the time to think about what you want to do in spring and summer this year. Make a list of things that you would love to do, and places you would like to go. This is the time to start putting into action those tools of manifestation that you learnt in the autumn months.

This is the growing season, and just like in the garden, what you plant and tend to will grow and expand.

There is a great metaphor that really resonates for me at this turning point of the year. Consider your life a garden, in it there are many plants – perhaps those you have consciously chosen to be there are those that have grown up for various reasons – commitments that you have and are not sure how you ended up with. Think about what you want to nurture and grow.

It might be relationships with friends, loved ones and family. Just like plants our relationships need to be nurtured, fed, and maintained for them to grow and bloom.

Growing your yoga practice

This early springtime is a wonderful time to become more playful and creative on your yoga mat too. It might be that this year you can plant the seed of growing your yoga practice at home.

Practising at home has lots of advantages:

• You can go at your own pace – this truly is a time for you to meet your needs whether that is to build strength or relax and unwind,

• You can nurture and nourish what you need,

• You can get as creative as you like about what you do,

• You can do it when it works for you – no need to go anywhere for a particular time.

I don’t deny that it can be scary to start with doing a practice on your own at home. There is the possible fear of getting it wrong, of not doing things in the right order. Maybe you think you won’t know what to do if you get your mat out, and your mind will be blank. All those thoughts and feelings went through my head when I first started. It could be helpful to think about the following:

• What is holding you back from rolling out your mat at home?

• How can you overcome these obstacles and is there an easy one that you can start with?

• What would happen if you did a little bit of yoga every day – how would it feel in your normal group class if you had been doing little and often?

• How would your life be different from now if you did something at home?

The good news is that you already know what to do when you get on your mat. Your subconscious mind has been present in all your yoga classes, whether online or in person. Your subconscious knows what you need, so trust it and let it guide you through your time on the mat. You will be amazed at what you can achieve. You could always start with doing a video at home – one of those little ones I have on the website or elsewhere. Or maybe just put on some relaxing music, lie on the mat and just start to move in a way that feels right – if you listen to your body then you won’t go wrong. You don’t have to be there for long – try just 5 mins and see what happens, it could be that you end up being there for longer!

Moving forward

Now is the time to start emerging from the winter hibernation. Take a walk in nature and observe the new life growing in the soil and on the trees, and become aware of the lengthening hours of daylight and the slightly warmer air. Tune in to how Nature is emerging from its winter rest. It’s ok if you don’t feel quite ready to burst forth and bloom. There are many different types of plants and flowers – some bloom in early spring, others are later, and some don’t bloom until the warmth of summer is at full strength.

Use this time, as the energy of the earth returns, to start making your dreams into reality. It might be that you start looking at holidays that you want to take this year or consider how you can grow the important relationships in your life, or what you want to change or achieve this year. Then use the tools of the manifestation process that you have learnt. Think about what you need to do to make them happen – that might be picturing yourself on holiday, then researching different holiday destinations, working out when you can take your trip etc. and then planning to book.

This might also be the time that you consider doing some yoga at home to help you. Use the expanding energy of the season to ignite your creativity and burn away the obstacles in your path.