Sanctuary
Your winter guide to honour the energy of the season and Self.
Embracing Inner Winter: A Time for Rest, Reflection, and Renewal
In the natural rhythm of life there exists a profound season of stillness and introspection known as the Inner Winter. It is a time when we can choose to retreat from the outwardly-focused energy of the world, turning inward to rest, reflect, and renew our energy.
This season invites us to embrace its sacred and potent stillness, but with our modern lives focused on a perpetual cycle of productivity and constant stimulation, it can be challenging to do. The concept of slowing down and embracing the darkness can feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Yet, within the stillness lies a deep wisdom, an ancient truth that beckons us to pause and listen.
Just as seeds lie dormant beneath the surface patiently awaiting the arrival of spring, we too need moments of deep rest and recovery. It is within these quiet moments that our growth takes root and our souls find nourishment.
In a world that values action and hustle, we often overlook the immense value of stillness. Yet, without the polarity of darkness, we cannot fully appreciate the light. Just as summer is essential to the cycle of seasons, so too is the inner winter vital to our personal evolution.
Grant yourself permission to go underground, to stand still, and to surrender to the transformative power of rest. Embracing the inner winter requires faith and patience, it is a profound act of self-care and self-discovery, for when we allow ourselves the space to heal, recharge, and reconnect, our innermost desires, visions and inner voice can be seen and heard.
From this sacred season we will emerge rejuvenated, ready to embrace the boundless possibilities that await us in the seasons to come.
Here are some ideas to support you to tune into your sanctuary within:
Embrace Stillness: Set aside dedicated time for stillness and solitude. Find a quiet space where you can retreat and reconnect with yourself. Engage in activities like meditation, journaling, or simply sitting in silence.
Reflect: Use this introspective season to reflect on the past and review your journey. Acknowledge your accomplishments, lessons learned, and areas for growth. Journaling prompts can guide you in this process, allowing you to gain clarity and insight.
Cultivate Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness in your daily life by bringing your attention to the present moment. Notice the sensations, thoughts, and feelings that arise within. Engage in mindful activities such as mindful walking, eating, or even simple tasks like washing dishes. This helps to anchor your awareness in the present and deepen your connection with Self.
Read Inspiring Books: Choose books that align with the themes of inner winter, personal growth, and self-enquiry. Explore spiritual teachings, philosophy, or memoirs that inspire and offer new perspectives. Allow the wisdom of these writings to ignite your own insights and contemplations.
Create Space: Grant yourself the permission to confidently say 'no' when necessary. To align with the energy of this season, it becomes essential to prioritise self-care and nurture yourself. This may involve carefully selecting the commitments you make and focusing on activities that promote a sense of calm and nourishment.
By setting healthy boundaries and being mindful of your energy reserves, you create the opportunity to honour your own needs and well-being.
Ayurveda and Winter
As the seasons gracefully shift, it becomes an invitation to attune ourselves to the wisdom of our bodies and honour our unique rhythms. Winter, in particular, holds a special place in this cycle, offering us a respite from the fast-paced mobility of the preceding seasons.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health and wellness that emphasises the balance between mind, body, and spirit.
During the course of winter, we find ourselves straddling the energies of Vata and Kapha. In the early months, the dry and cold weather amplifies Vata, characterised by its association with the elements of Air and Space. Cold winds can exacerbate anxiety, mood swings, and a sense of sensitivity and scatteredness. It is during this time that we may experience seasonal disorders manifesting primarily in the nervous system, such as heightened sensitivity to pain, headaches, migraines, and joint discomfort.
Later in Winter, as the weather becomes wet and cold, Kapha, representing the elements of Earth and Water, gains prominence. This shift brings its own set of qualities, characterised by a sense of dampness and cold, like chesty coughs.
To maintain harmony and balance, it becomes essential to adapt our routines and practices to what our body needs.
Creating routine and embracing simple rituals can work wonders in calming the nervous system, soothing the mind, and anchoring our changeable behaviors. Our yoga mat becomes an oasis of solace, offering us a space to find tranquility and connection with ourselves. Additionally, nurturing routines in the kitchen can play a pivotal role in restoring balance to the body. By incorporating grounding seasonal foods and extra oils into our daily nourishment, we provide the support needed to navigate the shifting energies of winter.
Paying close attention to our environment and how it influences us is key. During early winter, when Vata is predominant, we may find solace in slower practices, gentle movement, and warming, nourishing foods. These practices help to mitigate the dryness and anxiety that can arise. As winter progresses and Kapha begins to take hold, we can introduce more stimulating yoga practices and foods, preventing a sense of stagnation as we prepare for the energetic shift toward the coming spring.
In essence, the winter season presents an opportunity to cultivate balance and harmony within ourselves. By listening attentively to our bodies and adapting our routines, practices, and nourishment, we can navigate the distinct energies of Vata and Kapha with grace and ease. Embrace the gifts that winter brings, and allow its wisdom to guide you towards a place of greater well-being and inner harmony.
Here are some ways to weave ayurveda into the cooler months:
Self-Care: Prioritise self-care practices that support your well-being, like daily warm baths that are infused with magnesium salts and oils, soothing herbal teas, warm oil self-massage and nourishing cooked meals using seasonal produce.
Rituals: Create rituals that connect you with your inner light AKA spirit or Self. Light candles, burn incense, or create an altar space where you can set intentions, meditate, pray and connect to spirit. These rituals provide a sense of sacredness and help you attune to the deeper rhythms within.
Nourishment: eating warm cooked foods are best, think hearty soups, stews, vegetable curries and spiced porridges to warm the body and support digestion. Use a variety of locally sourced and seasonal vegetables like carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and leafy greens, grains, oils and spices. Avoid raw salads and cold, raw foods if possible.
Hydration: Drink warm water throughout the day and include herbal teas such as ginger tea, chai, or tulsi tea. Avoid cold or iced drinks where possible.
Healthy oils: Oils are particularly nourishing during winter, include ghee, sesame oil and almond oil in your cooking.
Warming spices: Include spices in your meals to enhance digestion and promote warmth. Ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, cloves, cayenne, cumin, and turmeric are considered beneficial during winter. You can add them to your dishes, teas, or warm milk.
Yoga and Winter
Within the realm of yoga, the fifth limb, Pratyahara, emerges as the embodiment of the winter season. Pratyahara invites us to turn inward, embracing the art of withdrawal and detachment. It is during this time that we consciously draw our senses away from the overstimulation of our external environments and sensory stimuli, redirecting our focus to the subtle realms within.
As we delve into the practice of Pratyahara, we fine-tune our awareness and become intimately attuned to the internal landscape. We find ourselves captivated by the rhythm of our breath, the steady beat of our hearts, and the deep reservoirs of stillness that reside within. By detaching from the distractions of the outside world, we create more space for meditation, more energy for self-care practices, more time for movement, journaling and reading.
The vital life force energy known as Prana plays a pivotal role in our winter journey. To harness the benefits of prana and stimulate our vitality, we can turn to specific pranayama practices also known as breathing techniques, such as Ujjayi and Bastrika. These breathing practices become our allies on oppressive and stagnant days, infusing our yoga practice with warmth and stimulation.
Ways to adapt your yoga practice this winter
Go Slow: Incorporate slower, grounding poses that promote relaxing into the posture, tuning into the breath and leaning into introspection (yin is wonderful).
Turn up the heat: On days that feel especially slow, heavy, dull, or stagnant, choose a warming hatha vinyasa sequence and hold poses for longer then usual. This will cultivate heat, shake up your energy and provide a sense of stability and strength.
Turn to the breath: Ujjayi breath, with its characteristic oceanic sound, helps generate internal heat and cultivates a sense of focus and concentration.
Bastrika breath, known for its powerful and energising nature, activates the vital channels of energy within us, invigorating the body and mind.
May this wisdom illuminate your path ahead, guiding you toward the sanctuary of deep self-awareness, inner warmth, and a profound connection with the essence of winter.
