Climbing Out of the Quicksand
At the end of winter, according to Ayurveda, kapha energy settles in. Kapha is the grounding energy. It's good to be grounded, but too much of this energy can make us feel heavy and stuck in the mud (or the crevices of the couch). Now, if you're not feeling this energy - if you're feeling light, like your feet are off the ground - then you don't need to lift yourself up - you need that kapha - and for that I would recommend restorative yoga and meditation. But if you're feeling kapha energy pulling you down, keeping you from getting out, working out, focusing and breathing fresh air, then this is where the invigorating asana practice shines. Here's a 3-step process to get you back on track.
First, drag yourself to a yoga mat - preferably a class. You'll have to. In a yoga class, you'll be led by a teacher. You'll be energized by your fellow students from the beginning of class to the end. You will work, strengthen, struggle, bend, flex and crack a sweat, which is what you need in order to move that kapha energy around and out (you do need some kapha - so refrain from running from your yoga class to two spin classes and TRX).
Second, observe, without judgement, what it feels like to have mobilized your legs, arms, core and spine. Movement is largely responsible for that amazing feeling you have after a class. Add to that the connection of breath to movement, the increased heart rate, the stretching of muscles, the philosophy of non-harming and self-study, and you get that "Whew! I feel good!" thing. There's more. Where yoga really excels: it creates space. We go in crunchy - in body and in mind and sometimes in attitude. We come out spacious - in the joints, in our thoughts and in our outlook. The kapha slips away as we float in our gained spaciousness.
Third, pat yourself on the back and set a date for the next class. Schedules are tight, but you must squeeze this into your schedule. If necessary, have a soap opera-style fight with yourself to force a class onto the calendar. Then live up to the commitment. As Vanda Scaravelli said, "at first you must force yourself to do yoga; eventually, yoga will pull you up by the hair and make you do it." You are in the first phase now and you gotta get yourself going. Eventually yoga will call your name and then eventually grab your hair. But you have to start the momentum. No excuses. I've heard from so many students - "I really love yoga and I loved coming to class and I don't know why I don't insist on fitting it in." There are so many reasons to let it go [insert your reason here]. And then there's kapha energy over-grounding you - taking away your oomph. You must reach, pull, push and strategize to drag yourself out of the quicksand. I know you can do it. C'mon. We're all routing for you.