The beginning of February had to be one of the greyest on record! Surely?! Everything just felt a little heavy and waterlogged …
And yet, slowly but surely the sun started to creep in once more. In our little studio, I took great joy in seeing it once again spilling across the walls…the bright bursts of colour throughout also acting as a gentle reminder that light is never far away.
Grounding and Growth
So far ( and I know we are only 2 days in!!), March has already shown us some beautiful sunshine! This month we will begin to notice the light continuing to stretch a little longer into each evening as well. The earth begins to soften and the Spring Equinox on March 20th offers us a rare moment of equilibrium…day and night held in perfect balance.
This seasonal turning point is also physiological. Our bodies respond to increasing daylight, shifting circadian rhythms and the gentle rise of energy that follows winter’s slower pace. I for one, love the change in the air Spring brings… that subtle hint of warmth, watching the daffodils opening and maybe, just maybe, braving a walk without one of my trusted beanie hats!! Like the slow peeling away of layers (much like me and my hats!) spring doesn’t arrive in a sudden burst. It unfolds gently, a steady transition rather than an abrupt awakening. And every true transition calls for balance.
In our yoga practice this month, we will be exploring the theme of grounding and growth—roots and shoots—remembering that sustainable expansion always begins with stability.
The Wisdom of Roots
Before anything blooms, it establishes a root system. Roots stabilise, nourish, and anchor. In the body, grounding works in much the same way.
Physiologically, grounding postures stimulate proprioceptors in the feet and lower body. These sensory receptors inform the brain about our position in space, enhancing balance and coordination. When the brain perceives stability, it often reduces unnecessary muscular tension. The nervous system softens.
When we focus on poses like Tree Pose (Vrksasana), using imagery to grow roots deep into the floor, we invite that subtle moment where we draw ourselves physically closer to the earth.
Yogic squat (Malasana) is a deep, grounding, natural squat …a shape humans were designed to access. It restores mobility to the ankles and hips, supports pelvic floor function, and gently decompresses the lower spine.
Malasana also supports digestive function through gentle abdominal compression and encourages circulation through the pelvis; an area often stagnant after long periods of sitting during winter months.
In the context of the equinox, this is our symbolic root system: reconnecting to stability, recalibrating the nervous system and building a base from which growth feels safe.
Growth Requires Stability
From that rooted base, we rise into expansive shapes like Virabrahadrasana I (Warrior I)…a posture that beautifully expresses the relationship between grounding and reaching.
Warrior I is not simply about lifting the arms; it is about the relationship between the back heel and the fingertips. The firm connection through the back foot activates the posterior chain…the calves, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles, creating structural integrity through the lower body.
When the foundation is steady, the spine can lengthen upward with freedom.
Physiologically, this pose:
- Strengthens the legs and supports joint stability
- Encourages hip extension, countering prolonged sitting
- Expands the chest and ribcage, enhancing lung capacity
- Builds postural awareness and functional balance
The upward reach stimulates alertness and energy. The grounded heel ensures that energy doesn’t become scattered.
Here we meet the equinox again: steadiness and expansion coexisting.
Crow: The Balance Between Earth and Air
Our peak floor pose exploration this series, Bakasana (Crow) and its variations, might seem at first like a departure from grounding. After all, we are lifting off the earth.
But Crow is perhaps the clearest expression of this month’s theme.
In Crow, the hands become the roots. Pressing firmly into the earth activates the muscles of the forearms, shoulders, and upper back. The deep core engages reflexively to stabilise the pelvis and spine. Balance emerges not from gripping, but from integrated support throughout the body.
Physiologically, Crow:
- Strengthens wrists and shoulder stabilisers
- Activates deep abdominal musculature (particularly transverse abdominis)
- Enhances neuromuscular coordination
- Improves focus and vestibular balance
- Builds bone density through weight-bearing in the upper body
It requires a delicate calibration between effort and surrender. Too much force and balance is lost. Too little engagement and we collapse.
Like the equinox, Crow is a moment suspended between opposites:
- Grounded yet lifted
- Strong yet light
- Rooted yet growing
We are not escaping the earth; we are trusting it enough to rise.
The Nervous System in Transition
Seasonal change affects more than mood…it influences hormonal rhythms, sleep patterns, and energy regulation. As daylight increases, cortisol patterns shift and the body begins to mobilise more readily.
Grounding postures regulate and steady this shift, supporting parasympathetic activation and feelings of safety. More dynamic, strength-based shapes stimulate alertness and vitality. Practiced together, they build resilience—our capacity to adapt smoothly to change.
This is the deeper lesson of the equinox: growth without grounding feels chaotic. Grounding without growth feels stagnant. Balance allows evolution.
Living the Equinox on the Mat
This March, our practice isn’t about pushing into bigger shapes. It’s about understanding the relationship between foundation and expansion.
Where in your life are you growing?
Where might you need deeper roots?
Can you allow stability and change to coexist?
Spring does not force the bloom. It prepares the soil, strengthens the stem and trusts the timing.
May your practice this month help you root deeply, rise steadily, and move forward with balanced strength…honouring both the earth beneath you and the light returning above.
Have a wonderful month and see you on the mat!
Love, health and happiness,
Rae x
WHAT’S ON THIS MONTH
Full Moon Sound Bath – Friday 6th March, 7-8pm with the lovely Rachel from Calm in the City.
Book your space directly via the following link:
https://mycalminthecity.as.me/fullmoonsoundbath
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