Yoga, Renewal, and Ancient Wisdom from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Spring arrives early here in Florida. While much of the country is just beginning to thaw, we’re already seeing blooming azaleas, feeling the shift in the light, and sensing a subtle invitation to refresh and reawaken. Even without the dramatic seasonal contrast, many of us feel spring internally—a pull toward movement, clarity, and a lighter way of being.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written in the 15th century by Swami Svatmarama, speaks directly to this transformation. It outlines a path of purification, energy cultivation, and balance. And while the language is old, the message is strikingly relevant. Spring is the perfect time to explore these teachings in a way that meets us where we are—right here, right now.
Step One: Clear Space—Within and Around
The Pradipika begins not with asana, but with purification. Known as shatkarma, these six cleansing practices are said to clear physical and energetic blockages, preparing the body for deeper practice.
“When the body is purified, the senses become purified, and a stable mind results.” — HYP 2.5
You don’t need to do full-on yogic detox rituals to embody this. Start with small rituals of clearing—physical, mental, and environmental.
Begin the day with warm lemon water to support digestion.
Practice gentle twists to help stimulate circulation and “wring out” stagnation.
Declutter a small space, maybe just a drawer, breathe deeply, and notice what shifts.
In the yogic sense, spring cleaning is about creating the conditions for energy to move more freely—inside and out.
Step Two: Breathe In Fresh Energy
After cleansing, the Pradipika moves into pranayama—the breath regulation to cultivate energy (prana).
“When the breath is unsteady, the mind is unsteady. When the breath is still, the mind is still.” — HYP 2.2
We often feel a natural rise in energy during spring, but it can be scattered. Breathwork helps us gather and direct that energy with intention.
Try this in your practice:
Equal breathing (Sama Vritti) – Inhale for 4, exhale for 4. Grounding and centering.
Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) – Restores inner balance. Start simply: Close the right nostril with your thumb, inhale through the left nostril. Now close the left nostril with your ring finger, exhale through right nostril. Now, inhale through right, exhale through left. This is one round; aim for three or more.
Simple belly breathing – Connects you back to the body.
A few minutes a day can be enough. Breath is one of the most accessible tools we have—and one of the most powerful.
Step Three: Move with Intention
Only after purification and breath does the Pradipika introduce physical postures. Asana, it tells us, is not about performance—it’s about cultivating steadiness and comfort in the body so that we can move inward.
“Asana becomes perfect when effort ceases and meditation on the Infinite begins.” — HYP 1.17
In spring, nature begins to open and expand. We can reflect that in our practice with heart-opening and energizing shapes that also ground us.
Try incorporating:
Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) – Opens the chest and strengthens the spine.
Twists (like Revolved Chair or Seated Twist) – Detoxify and refresh.
Standing poses (Warrior II, Triangle) – Build focus, strength, and presence.
Move in a way that supports awakening—physically, mentally, and energetically.
Step Four: Balance the Rising Energy
Spring can be invigorating but also overwhelming. More activity, more ideas, more plans. The Pradipika reminds us to honor both sides of energy: ha (sun, action) and tha (moon, rest). Authentic yoga is about balance—not extremes.
“Success in yoga is not achieved by wearing special clothes, or by talking about it, but only by practicing.” — HYP 1.67
“Yoga is achieved through balance in activity, diet, sleep, and effort.” — Paraphrased from HYP 1.15
In other words, it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what nourishes you, steadily and with sincerity.
This season, allow yourself to:
Balance active flows with slower, meditative movement.
Prioritize rest alongside ambition.
Approach your practice as a rhythm, not a race.
Spring as a Sacred Season
There’s something sacred about this time of year—not because everything is perfect, but because everything is becoming. Here in Ocala, we’re surrounded by life that blooms effortlessly. That same process is happening in us, too.
“Through regular and devoted practice, the yogi becomes radiant, healthy, and filled with vitality.” — HYP 1.66
The invitation is clear:
Purify what’s weighing you down.
Breathe in what inspires you.
Move with integrity and awareness.
Rest with as much intention as you rise.
Whether you’re returning to your mat after a break, or simply adjusting your practice to the season, know that this inner shift is part of something much bigger. Yoga reminds us that transformation is not a performance—it’s a process.
In Bloom, Together
Here in Florida, we’re surrounded by early signs of spring. The warm breeze, the scent of jasmine, and the lizards sunning on the porch remind us that change is natural, growth is ongoing, and beauty unfolds when we give it space.
So, take a breath. Step onto your mat. Let your practice reflect the quiet brilliance of the season.
This spring, return to the root of your practice—not to accomplish, but to awaken.
See you there.
Jai Bhagwan, Kristine
