Spring is springing. The flowers are starting to push their way up through the ground; the trees are budding; we can open the windows and get all that stale air out of our houses and cars; and we don’t need to feel suffocated in our heavy coats and scarves anymore. It is an excellent opportunity to create some space in our bodies, our minds and our physical surroundings. Buddha said, “When you let go, you create space for better things to enter your life.”

Let’s start with what is around us – there are three categories of “spring cleaning” we can focus on: Tossing, Cleaning and Organizing. We tend to go into somewhat of a hoarding mode in the winter months. What can you get rid of immediately? Old magazines, winter clothes you don’t really like or wear, expired food, old blankets you may replace next year, all those freebie things you’ve accumulated from job fairs, old class papers you know you won’t need again … think about what you can throw away or donate to clear out the area.

Once you have done that, clean everything really well with some furniture spray, glass cleaner and Clorox wipes. Viruses like the flu can live on surfaces for a day or two, and dust causes a lot of allergy-like symptoms in spring because with the windows open, the dust blows around. Make everything shiny and dirt-free, vacuum and sweep, do all the laundry and pack away winter items in order to bring in some brighter colors.

Organization has never been easier, even in smaller spaces, with all of the storage solution options you can get these days. Under-the-bed storage containers, cubby cubes with fabric drawers, closet organizers … these are all great ways to organize your space. Organize your items by type and purpose. What do you really need near your computer? What do you need to access quickly every day?

Once the space is clean and open, which actually does amazing things for your subconscious, you can work on creating space within yourself. this is important, because you cannot evolve if you don’t create enough space mentally and physically for change.

In the mind, meditating and breathing and allowing time for stillness and quiet allows us to be mindful of the current moment and let go of the worries of past and future. Doing this allows for our creative brain to do its work. It releases stress and helps us to center. In the body, we can use a yoga practice to open up tense areas and create flexibility. For instance, reach your hands up as high as you can get them. Now, reach them higher. You can actually do it. We limit ourselves more than we realize. Try to touch your toes. Check in with your body and realize you are probably tensing your upper back without even knowing it … release it. Space.

The pure light in me honors and respects the same in you. Namaste.

By Jennifer Russo