Wintering and Yoga
R and R on the Winter Solstice
sometimes an eye pillow is just what you need to really rest
Sometimes not doing yoga is yoga. Let me explain.
Yoga is so much about knowing yourself - a practice called svadhyaya. Just pushing ahead and going through the motions of yoga practice on your mat, even though you’re tired, is not only counterproductive, it skips over that most precious part of our practice: self-awareness.
It has taken me so many years to really get this.
It’s easy to understand. But to really honor ourselves and say, “Today I need a nap or yoga nidra or some time with friends or a walk in fresh air,” is the best way to honor ourselves.
Today is the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter a.k.a. the shortest day of sunlight. With Christmas just four days away, my brain thinks I should do so much and my body feels it wants to lay on the couch.
So guess what I’m going to do? Nothing much.
This is sometimes the best way to take care of ourselves, and to honor the essence of the Winter. We don’t have the luxury of hibernating, but we need to rest and moms are notorious for not letting themselves rest.
This is my invitation to you to take a moment of rest. I know you're busy. It can be a brief rest, but make sure it’s both mental and physical. If you have a hard time resting both your body and your mind at the same time, though, I highly recommend yoga nidra. It’s such a nourishing, nurturing practice. Here is one of my favorite free online resources for yoga nidra. Check it out!
Did you know that our menstrual cycles also provide an internal experience of the seasons, too? Here and here are two nice explanations of this.
According to the model of the menstrual cycle in those articles linked above, I am in the winter of my cycle, another reason why I might be feeling tired. I’ve reflected on this so much and what this really means for my yoga practice and my life as a mom. Read more about it here in this old post I wrote on the topic.
Alright, I’ll keep this short and sweet. Of course, if an intense vinyasa yoga practice or a hot yoga class is what you need most right now, go for it!
But if you are longing for rest, this is my deepest encouragement for you — do it!
I hope this brought you some inspiration to listen to your body. If you know another mama who could use this, please feel free to share: