Take time to listen and recharge

Winter, some love it and thrive, others find the cold disabling and resist what winter has to offer. We can navigate this season with better health and emotional wellness with our yoga practice to keep vitality alive and humming.
Winter is governed by the element of water and controls the kidney and bladder meridians. It’s the Yin time of year, dark, cold, slow, inward. It is a time for rest and hibernation. We can see nature retreating all around us, building reserves for the next cycle and in this fashion so must we.

A quiet and reflective time of year when it’s easier to sleep in, stay at home and let ourselves rest.  Water is about our ability to flow and to overcome obstacles. To gain insight into the attributes of water and how that may be reflected in ourselves at this time of year, we only have to look at its many faces in nature. The mighty river or trickling stream, waves in the ocean, a frozen lake, a gentle rain. The bladder meridian is the official in charge of our reserves of energy. It is reflected in our ability to keep going or in feelings of fatigue. The kidney meridian is the controller of water. It is also in charge of our Essential Qi which we inherit from our parents and controls bigger events in the cycle of life like puberty and menopause.

In our practice we assist toning and strengthen the bladder and kidney meridian with asana, pranayama and meditation. We can use our practice to stoke our inner fire to ensure it burns evenly and consistently; a slow burn to strengthen our immunity, release fearful emotions, lift our mood and ensure our energy channels are flowing. Stagnancy can manifest easily in this season if we do not pay attention to our internal needs. Yoga and all its elements provides the ideal panacea to any winter blues.

Some questions to ponder during the winter season. 

Have you ever thought about what really nourishes you? Certainly, in the food you eat, but also beyond that…what produces that quality of deep satisfaction and satiation?

What is it that helps you feel that you are and that you have “enough”?

According to Ayurveda, we derive nourishment from the water element which is the principle of cohesion.

In the body, this emerges as nourishment, growth, and lubrication. Water element cools, moistens, adheres, soothes, softens, smoothes, dulls and spreads.

The water element governs the hips, so when our connection to water element falters, our hips can be weak or very tight. Water element also regulates lubrication and connection. When we express the free-flowing water element in balance, we connect easily to others. Emotionally we feel content, express ourselves calmly and smoothly, and allow things to “roll off our back.” Winter teaches us to go with the flow, to find our internal rhythm with which to sustain us on a deeper level than any other time of year.

In our winter yoga practice, we want to stabilize the earth element, invigorate the energy channels, nourish and replenish from inside. The sequence below awakens both earth and water – invoking a sense of calm and groundedness, connecting to feelings of all is well in the here and now. 

One more ingredient that will really super-charge our practice is by evoking an attitude, or bhava’ of contentedness. Move slowly and breathe deeply through these postures to invite a sense of rich connection to your experience. Here are three poses for connecting with winter’s water element.

  1. Striking Cobra (Shashank Bhujangasana)

This pose works very well following Shashankasana, or Hare Pose.

Benefits: This posture helps to awaken the energy of creativity and vitality of the 2nd chakra (the “home” of water element) and spread it throughout the body. Repeat 8-20 times.

  1. Tiger Pose (Vyagrasana)

Benefits: This posture frees up tension in the hips and sacrum while evoking the round, fluid motion of water element.

  1. Pigeon Pose (Eka-Pada Rajakapotasana)

Benefits: This posture releases stored-up hip tension, which may also liberate stored-up, unprocessed emotion. Stay with it and breathe deeply, letting yourself feel what comes up without trying to make meaning from it.

With the water element, the well runs deep. Adding these postures into your practice will help you release old emotional scars and welcome in deep nourishment and contentment. 

Key principles of the season:

Practice self-acceptance – start with the gentle art of observing yourself. Notice your fears, be with them but not in them. Practice letting them go. Use the breath and visualisations. Get outdoors when you can and breath in the freshness.

Take time to listen and recharge – listen to your heart and listen to others. Settle the anxiety that may arise to respond quickly, slow down and give space to your conversations. You might be surprised by what you learn and hear 🙂 Keep in mind that the more we rest in winter the greater the harvest in late summer. 

Nurture yourself inwardly – notice those seeds of inspiration, long-held dreams or the loudly calling voice of change. Give it some quiet space to be heard. Use the quiet space of your practice to let things bubble to the surface and reveal. 

Nourish yourself well – consume warm foods, lots of water (winter dehydrates our moisture) Eat warming foods such as root vegetables, wholegrain and small amounts of quality meat or fish protein. If vegetarian eat more beans, nuts, and tempeh. Warming drinks with the addition of spices like cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, tumeric, nutmeg in a quality milk or nutmilks are super soothing for winter chills. 

Keep warm – prepare for the seasonal weather and dress accordingly. The neck and shoulders are wind points in Chinese Medicine through which pathogens can enter. Keep these areas protected, wear a scarf and cover your neck. With this in mind get outdoors whenever you can and avoid artificial heating where possible. Breathe the crisp clean air, walk in nature, sit in the winter sun and observe the quiet of nature around you. Let it be your guide.

Following these simple principles will help you navigate this season with ease. 

Go quietly and be well.