Use Seasonal Energy to Support Your Practice Goals

The Shaolin arts are all about understanding timing and spacing.

The buds are popping, my perennials are pushing out of the ground, and the birds are chirping as I step outside for my first morning alfresco Qigong practice in some time. There’s a special beauty to spring that even the crankiest of us can’t ignore. After months of stillness, life awakens and growth begins anew. The sun warms us, the days get longer, and we feel a little more energy that hasn’t been there in a while.

Now let’s look backwards to the beginning of the year and any goals or resolutions we may have set. Five months on, how are those going? Good? Great, carry on. Did they fall by the wayside? No worries. This is why I focus on goals over resolutions each year, and why I like to remind people that the right time to build a habit is anytime.

From an energetic perspective, one focused on the waxing and waning of Qi and of the Five Elements through their annual cycle, I would actually argue that spring and summer are the best times to take up a habit or focus on building a goal. This makes total sense when we consider the nature of each element. When we arrive at New Year’s Day, we are solidly in the middle of winter (well, here in the Northern Hemisphere anyway) and the Water element. Recall how water, its downward flowing energy, and its association with the kidney, all center around stillness and storage. Not exactly the best time for taking on 12 new plans and starting a juice cleanse. It is however a great time for resting and eating soup.

But with the arrival of spring, the Wood element grows stronger and with it, its energy of growth, reaching and expansion. The Fire element of summer also promotes growth and movement. Within our own circadian rhythms, we naturally have more energy during this time of year, energy which better sustains the undertaking of new enterprises.

So, dust your annual goals off and take a look at them. Whether it’s increasing time spent in certain force training exercises like Lifting Water or Golden Bridge, creating or sticking to a consistent training schedule, or even just getting started in your practice, now is the time of year where the seasonal energy will best support these endeavors and give you’re the extra momentum to help you succeed (spoiler alert: you still have to do the work).

For those of you looking to get your practice off the ground and take charge of your physical and emotional wellness, I invite you to take advantage of the Mental Health Awareness Month discount available all month long. Pick up my on-demand courses at a deep discount and start fostering a skill that will sustain you all year long.

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