April Eve: Tending the Spark of Spring

"When the body & mind are together, we can establish ourselves in the here and now and get in touch with life & all it's wonders." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Hello dear friends,

As we arrive at the edge of April, I find myself riding small waves of rejuvenation.

There’s a bit more lightness here. A return of vitality. And a deep gratitude for the space I was able to take last week — to step back, to receive, to listen. As well as offering in yoga therapy, supporting peers, returning to the college kids, witnessing nature with refreshed eyes. These moments feel precious, and like all things, impermanent. And I'm grateful to be in the contentment- the santosha of it all, knowing the moments, we meet them.

We meet them. We ride them. We remember.
As always, take what serves and leave the rest. Soundscape from the Coming Home Playlist for your read, offerings further below, and some seasonal considerations.

Spring continues its quiet, steady work.

Blossomings.
Movement.
The subtle stirring of something new.

In the world around us — and within us — there is a lot moving.

Full days. Rising costs. Shifting demands.
And alongside it, nature does not pause.

It renews.

We are invited to do the same — not by pushing harder, but by tending wisely.

As Andrea Rare reminds us:
“Healing is not pushing harder. It is creating the conditions where change emerges naturally.”

If the nervous system is overwhelmed, asking it to push for growth or clarity will only create more strain. Transformation cannot stabilize in a system that feels under threat.

But when we soften… when we create space…
energy returns.

This has felt true for me in these recent days — less doing, more receiving.
And from there, something begins to awaken again.

We are now in Aries season — the first spark of the zodiac, the emergence of fire after winter’s stillness.

And in this Year of the Fire Horse, there is a beautiful mirror:

The horse that grazes steadily… aware, attuned…
and yet ready, at any moment, to move with energy and purpose.

There is both readiness and patience here.
Both structure and spontaneity.

Just like early spring.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is the season of the Wood Element — associated with the liver, with movement, with vision, with growth.

A time to:

• cleanse
• circulate
• awaken
• and gently rejuvenate after winter’s storage

We may feel:

• restless
• irritable
• stuck or sluggish

And so we move. We breathe. We tend.

In Ayurveda, we are still within Kapha season — the slow, nourishing, foundational time of year. Stability and moisture that can either ground us… or weigh us down if not balanced with gentle activation.

So we meet this season with:
curiosity, warmth, and attunement.

I’ve been sitting with a few simple inquiries this week:

✨ What are the helpful ways I can tend my soil?
✨ What sparks of spring are ready to come forth in me?

Perhaps there are weeds (or opportunities) present —
confusion, doubt, frustration, stagnation.

And also… potential.

We were made to tend both.

There is also a broader world we are living within.

A quiet nod to those observing holy seasons.
To those advocating for justice and inclusivity.
To the many waters rising in our collective.

May we continue tending our individual gardens…
and the greater garden we all share.

May we be like bamboo — resilient, rooted, and able to bend without breaking.

Mark Nepo writes:

“Being who we are releases an extraordinary power that influences those around us. As the sun shines without intent or plan, so too can we emanate our light without reservation…”

And,

“As the Earth keeps going by turning itself toward the light day after day, we too must keep turning toward what we feel is real.”

There is nothing we need to force. Keep showing up in truthfulness- satya

Only to turn toward the light — again and again.

To remember our warmth.
To allow our energy to return.
To trust what is unfolding.

As my teacher reminds:

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Sarajoy Marsh

Be the hero of your beautifully ordinary, extraordinary life.

As we move into this new month:

May we release stress and stagnation.
May we allow our spirits to shine.
May we recalibrate, renew, and awaken — in our own time.

In radiance & rest,
With love & light,

-Maya

🌿 April Offerings

I look forward to practicing with you in this vibrant season ahead!!

🌿 Heart Spring Health — Sellwood
Heart Spring is offering 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $25

• Mon 6:30am — Root & Rise
• Tues 10:00am — : Embodied Yoga- A Yoga Therapy inspired Class
• Wed 4:45pm — Slow Flow
• Wed 6:15pm — Ground & Release
  (See Subbing Yoga for Chronic Pain Fridays 10^th & 17^th @ 3pm)- See Classes

🌿 Humberside Loft — SW Portland
Sat 9:00am — Root & Rise – April 11, 18, 25- Last Saturdays of the Season!
Spring Space refresh! Yoga, tea, treats, and connection.

🌿 Online
Wed 11:00am — Community Circle (Free)
Fri 8:00am — Friday Flow (Pay What You Can)

✨ Free Resources
In Person: Monday Free Accessible Classes
Providence St. Vincent
Beginner-friendly, in-person, and welcoming
9:00am & 10:00am Mondays
Visit @Basecamp for full schedule

➡ Practice: @MayaLakeYoga Youtube
➡ Listen: Maya Lake Yoga- Coming Home Playlist. 
➡ Read: Insights & Inspirations- Past Blogs & Letters
➡ Follow: Instagram