Winter’s Gift

December 21st is the darkest day of the year and signals the start of the winter season. The solstice is considered the most Yin day of the year and Winter is the most Yin season. You have opportunities or obstacles to face depending on your orientation. The darkness of today and the yin quality of the season are glorious invitations to turn inward and get quiet with your self. If you resist this invitation, you will be pushing back against the natural order of things and against your own innate capacity to organize your physical, and energetic embodiment in relationship to the natural world.

The Kidney meridian, most heavily associated with this season, governs the jing (essence energy) that fuels growth and supports immune function. The health of our essence energy is greatly depleted by stress and overstimulation and this time of year the fight or flight response is in overdrive for many. If we deplete our Kidneys and adrenals now, when the rising energy of Spring bursts onto the scene we will be ill prepared to thrive as creative engines. Now is the time to rest, minimize social commitments, and guard time for personal reflection. Yogis are always looking for ways to simplify and bring more Yin into their lives to cultivate balance but now especially, we can all benefit from following the cues of nature. Donna Eden calls winter the Embryonic Rhythm. That name really illuminates the ideal for me. It suggest that we go inward and incubate quietly, passively receiving nourishment from the internal experience of self as both parent and child.

Here are suggestions for thriving in the cold and dark of Winter:

1. Keep your feet, belly, and low back warm. Wear socks Charleston Yogis! Dress for the weather in general with smart layers. It isn’t that cold here but when it does get chilly I see far too many people inappropriately dressed.

2. Go to bed early as often as possible. Sleep resets the nervous system like nothing else.

3. Eat root vegetables and soups. Focus on warm foods and use healthy fats to cook and season with. You should gain a little weight in the winter as all animals do. The weight shouldn’t come from excess sugar indulgence and yo yo extreme workouts but instead should arise as we rest more and eat more heavy and grounding foods.

4. Keep your workouts more mellow. The Kidneys are often referred to as the house of fire and water. If there is too much rising heat in the body (triggered by stress and over exertion) it weakens the kidneys thereby lowering your immune function. Everyone is different so there are no hard and fast rules here but consistency and moderation are always key to exercise.

5.Give yourself permission to disappoint others in order to take care of yourself. Instead of saying yes to everyone and everything then stressing and potentially flaking on your commitments anyways, say no to begin with and keep your calendar more spacious. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. Life is short and Winter can offer us the opportunity to create better boundaries and grow our wise discernment.

6. As you lighten up on the Vinyasa and heavy lifting, double down on the Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, and Yoga Nidra practices. Don’t give up activity by any means. Prioritize nourishment first and do less stimulating exercise but remember that this is a spectrum. Each persons personal needs are different.

I hope you find the Winter nourishing and subtly transformative. If you find yourself fearful or overwhelmed ask for support. Know that you have the tools and can find the guides you need.

Love,
KJ