Winter Yoga is the Best Time for Nourishing our Mind, Body and Soul.
Winter is likely the least favourite season for many of us to practice yoga. As temperatures drop, I often receive messages from students asking how to practice yoga more comfortably during winter.
For many of us, practising yoga during winter can be challenging, especially when warming the body seems almost impossible. Recognizing that we are part of nature, winter indeed offers us a perfect opportunity to nurture and care for our body and mind after a year of hard work.
Practicing yoga during winter can help us cultivate self-love and alleviate winter depression. Here are my four pieces of advice for you. I hope it helps. Let's dive in.
4 Tips and Advice to Get the Best out of Yoga During Winter.
Tip 1: Refine Your Winter Practice Intentions - Take Time to Slow Down.
As the seasons change, we also experience changes within ourselves. During the summer, the weather is warm, our energy levels are high, and we are more inclined to engage in intense, sweat-inducing practices. In contrast, winter brings chilly weather and often lowers our energy levels. According to Eastern philosophies such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, this season is a period for maintenance and self-healing. It's an ideal time to focus on nurturing our minds and bodies, allowing us to build a strong foundation for the vibrant seasons that lie ahead.
Reset your intention to slow down and engage in practices that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Begin with lower-intensity movements that help generate body heat from within. Start by practising 6 to 12 rounds of Classical Sun Salutations, then focus on the Standing Hatha Yoga Sequence. Awakening your mind and body through conscious breathing and movement can enhance blood circulation throughout your body. Make nourishment the priority of your practice.
Tip 2: Take a warm shower, apply oils, and wear warm clothing to enhance warmth and mobility.
Many yogis find it helpful to take a warm bath or shower before practising yoga. This warms up the body from the outside in and softens the muscles, helping to prepare them for better performance in strength and mobility practice.
Another personal tip of mine is to apply body oil to the joints after a warm shower. I find it very nourishing to smoothen the joints with the oil penetrating into those areas, aided by the heat from the shower.
After a warm shower and an oil massage, make sure to wear clothing that keeps you warm. Many of my students are accustomed to practising yoga in tank tops and shorts, but since it's winter, let's opt for something comfortable and warm instead. This way, we can get the most out of our practice.
Tip 3: Set Up Your Practice Space for Success - Warm It Up
If you have a heater in your house, I recommend turning it on 30 minutes before practice. After a warm shower, you can practice in a comfortably warm room right away. This helps you retain the heat you've generated from your shower or bath. For fresh air, keep the window open a little bit. If your space is too cold to leave the window open, keep it closed and consider getting some indoor plants to create a pleasant, oxygen-rich environment. My personal favourites are Peace Lilies and Snake Plants!
Tip 4. Sequence Your Practice Smartly - Listen to Your Body
If you regularly practice soothing and calming disciplines like Yin Yoga or Restorative Yoga, you may find it challenging to hold poses for an extended time during the cold winter months. There's nothing wrong with sticking to your regular practice, but you can adjust your sequence to better accommodate the conditions. Ensure that your body is activated enough to maintain longer-held poses, and make sure your environment allows you to stay comfortably in static postures without getting cold.
In my personal practice, in addition to Hatha Yoga, I also regularly practice Ashtanga Yoga. The Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga is my all-time favourite, especially in winter, because it energizes and elevates my mood. If you have never practised Ashtanga Yoga before, make sure to learn from an experienced teacher who can guide you through the physical and spiritual aspects of the practice. Of course, you can also learn with me; please fill in the Class Inquiry form so we can practise together.
Final Words - Let Yoga Be Your Best Companion in Every Season of Your Life
The practice of yoga touches our hearts and soul. While winter may seem like a less favourable time to practice yoga, especially when the body feels less mobile and flexible, it's important to remember that yoga is far more than the postures we form. It is a journey that guides us inward, back to the essence of our soul. I hope these tips help! I'd also love to hear your winter yoga tips. Comment below or email me. I'm all ears. :-)
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Until my next blog post, sending you peace and love.
I wish you peace as always,
by Cloud @ CloudC Yoga
