How yoga teaches us to embrace the art of wintering
You know how people say you can’t always judge a book by its cover? Wintering reminds us this is true for life, too. The visible milestones of our lives often become the measures by which we define success. Goals we can tick off. Even corporate yoga can become goal orientated if we aren’t careful.
The truth is, we live in a world that praises growth. Expansion. Achievement. Nature has another lesson to teach.
Winter
After years of lessons in becoming, winter quietly acknowledges that sometimes life just needs to be. Trees let go of their leaves. Seeds rest below the earth. Animals burrow into cozy corners and conserve their energy. Winter gives us a front row seat to the beauty of simply…being.
Does anything really happen during winter? Of course it does!
Life is just happening under the surface. Winter is the season that teaches us about balance. It teaches us there is a time to show up and shine. And a time to rest.
True growth is a cyclical process
Winter is nature’s way of reminding us that the parts we cannot see are just as important as the parts we can. Wintering means letting yourself rest without guilt when life calls for it. We honour our rest periods the same way nature does by softly slowing down. Nestling into the seasons of life that tell us it’s time to pause, reflect and restore.
Wintering doesn’t mean giving up. It doesn’t mean staying in bed all day. Instead it teaches us that personal evolution happens in many forms – some of which aren’t visible to anyone but you. Yoga helps us understand this.
The gentle practice of being OK with nothing
If you’ve ever studied yoga philosophy, you may have come across the term pratyahara.
Translated as the ‘withdrawal of senses.’ Or… Turning inward. Wintering is nature’s form of practicing pratyahara.
Our world is busy. Fast-paced. Always ON. There is constant noise for our attention. Notifications. Social media. Podcasts. Shows. Books. Movies. Conversations. News.
Newsletters. Emails. Deadlines. Responsibilities.
We are literally drowning in things to distract us from what’s happening inside. Wintering seasons of life tell us to pause. To restore. To reconnect with our inner wisdom. Practicing yoga during these times can invite us to quiet the noise. Silence the SHOULD’s. And tune inward. Your practice doesn’t have to be about trying the hardest pose or building strength. Instead it can become a chance to listen.
Practice less. Listen more.
Sometimes our yoga is about building. Other times it’s about creating space. If we push ourselves during every season we miss the opportunity to receive what each moment has to offer. When we’re craving hustle and chaos, yoga might feel like the exact thing we need.
When we’re in a season of wintering, slowing down with our practice could be just what we need to receive. There is nothing wrong with working hard in your practice but if you’re reading this, you’re likely in search of something slow and intentional. Allow yourself to rest into the poses. Enjoy slowing down with your breath. Listen.
Four ways to yoga and fully embrace winter
Not sure where to begin?
Here’s a few of my favourite ways to honour the wintering seasons of life with yoga:
- Start your morning with slow movement.
Before you jump out of bed and hustle through your morning routine, take a few minutes to gently move your body. Give yourself time to wake-up. Roll your shoulders. Try some cat-cow. Do some gentle stretches. Take time to sit in silence and listen to your body before you step into your day.
- Give yourself permission to have a longer savasana (corpse pose).
Did you know savasana is where all the magic happens? When we allow ourselves to integrate our practice by laying quietly in savasana, we give our body the opportunity to truly feel the benefits of our practice. During this time of year savasana is your friend.
Give yourself extra time to sit with silence. Bonus points if you meditate or journal after your practice.
- Focus on conscious breathing.
When was the last time you focused on your breath? We take for granted one of the most powerful tools to calm the nervous system right at our fingertips.
Slow breathing can help warm us up from the inside out. Stabilising our energy when we need it most.
- Meditate.
Meditating doesn’t mean clearing your mind. It’s about allowing yourself to observe. Take five minutes to sit with yourself before jumping into your day. Notice what comes up for you when you sit in STILLNESS.
Nature is wise.
If it snows, spring will come. If we winter, life will continue to flourish…in deepest ways we may not yet see. If you would like to try meditation Mornington Peninsula or private yoga classes, reach out to Emily at Mount Martha Yoga, she’s got just the thing for you this season.
