May 2025 Theme
By Judith Lynch
As we move through the month of May we find ourselves at the very heart of Springtime. With the early onset of warm weather in April this year many plants and blossoms flowered earlier than usual but the full opening up of most trees, shrubs, flowers and fruit bushes will come to a crescendo in May, bringing nature’s full beauty into our lives for us to admire and enjoy. So perhaps it is apt to focus on opening up our own hearts at this time of year. A time to focus on enjoying building our strength and vitality, releasing any stagnant energies. Then allowing joy, love and compassion into our lives
Perhaps start with seated centring, hands in prayer mudra becoming aware of your heart space. Continue on to practice lotus mudra which is said to calm the mind and tune us into the natural beauty of our soul. It can open up our heart chakra, connecting us to compassion and flow.
Possibly move on to butterfly pose lifting the heart, then folding forward.
Maybe then practise your best tadasana, standing in good spinal alignment but with feet hip-width apart. Lift the sternum, open the heart, lift the spirits. Then practise a few rounds of the Breath of Joy. This uses three full breaths. Firstly take a slow breath raising arms in front of you to shoulder height, as if you are drawing the energy of the earth into your body, then breathe out. On your second breath stretch arms firmly out to your sides and finally using a third breath raise arms above your head. Breathe out “ha” softening your knees as you fold forward, sweeping arms up behind you. Repeat the sequence then pause and rest feeling your energy move and settle. Raising arms in time with your breath is centring but it also brings strength to your arms, shoulders and upper back. The ”ha” breath out allows release of any tension or tightness.
Other warm-ups could be light hearted and fun.
“Be a lamb” From all 4s practise initial stage of Superhero balance simply placing fingers of one hand down in front with arm stretched forward and toes of opposite leg down with leg stretched behind. Change sides. Make sure your back is flat and your upper back lengthened, gaze towards the floor.
“Be a chicken” Place hands under armpits moving elbows back and forth and flapping your wings to encourage squeezing of the shoulder blades.
Other heart-opening asanas you might enjoy practising this month could be as follows. Remember to feel grounded as you inhale and then on each out breath feel a sense of freedom and joy in your movements.
- Warrior 1
- A flow sequence moving from downward dog to low lunge with chest opening and maybe raising your arms. Possible add-ons could be high lunge followed by warrior 111 and chair pose.
- Another heart-opening posture and balance to practise might be the dancer pose, making sure you keep your head up and chest open as you move into the final part of the asana. Let your heart sing!
- Suitable lying postures could be bow pose then seated relaxation, with upper body folding over bent up knees and head hanging, releasing back of neck.
- Maybe concluding with Bridge and Happy baby pose.
You could round off your practice returning briefly to the seated prayer and/or lotus mudra posture.
Or maybe come into a simple savasana, following your breath, allowing yourself to soften muscles and joints and sink into the ground, thoroughly enjoying your rest and relaxation.
A meditation practice which fits in well here might be The Metta Bhavana. This practice focuses on the development of universal loving kindness or emotional positivity. Thich Nhat Hanh, the famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk, created an excellent version of it but there are many around to choose from. I like to start and also finish with a focus on a sense of compassion for oneself, bringing the meditation “exercise” full circle back to one’s own heart space. Possibly with hands over heart or a big hug for oneself before re-energising.