The start of the new year encourages you to review what you want to achieve in the year ahead. You consider changes you want to make and perhaps make resolutions. However, you need to also acknowledge that, although January is the start of a new calendar year, it is also the middle of the winter season.

Winter is a time to rest and rejuvenate

Winter is the time of year when the natural world, most plants and animals have slowed down. They are resting, taking a well-deserved break.  

Winter is a time to rest and restore, a time to conserve energy in these colder months. It is a time to withdraw, reflect, replenish and relax. You can use the turning of the year to let go of the past or worries about the future. This is the time for reflection, tuning into the present and moving gently.

While summer holds the peak of energetic, dynamic ‘yang’ energy, winter is very much the opposite. Spring is the time for manifesting new ideas and planning projects; summer is your time to ‘do’, achieve, adventure and live life to the fullest, and autumn is a time to start winding down and gradually bring projects to completion. Winter is the season of recovering and rejuvenating.

As much as it is the start of the year and with it there is an energy of change. Winter is the season for less ‘doing’ and more ‘being’. It is difficult at the start of the calendar year to think about taking a step back from constant productivity, but it is vital for every aspect of your wellbeing. When you slow down and rest, you can have a very positive impact on what you’re able to produce when spring arrives. When you push yourself to be in a constant state of ‘doing’ and ‘producing’. When you strive to tick boxes and complete to-do lists, you can become incredibly fatigued. This eventually makes you less imaginative.

You need to continue to reflect on what the natural world is doing. It is still hibernating, conserving its energy and creating more balance.

Water is the element of Winter.

Winter is related to the water element. A time for containment, concentration, stillness & creating tranquillity. A time for going with the flow and adapting – maybe this is where your desire to make changes initiates…

Water comes in many forms.  Maybe you flow like water? Or maybe you are rigid like ice? Perhaps you are hot and bubbling? Or do you may feel stagnant and sludgy? Water is constantly flowing, changing and adapting. It moves between its different forms. No matter which form of water you associate with today, if you want to change and adapt, be sure that just as water can, when the time is right, so will you.

Water can also be associated with the emotion of fear. Therefore, it is important to take time to turn inward and consider how you are feeling or dealing with any stressful, anxious areas in your life. It is easy to become overwhelmed and worry about 'what might happen' in the future, or overthink the past.

If this is the case, work on staying present moment through mindfulness, yoga and meditation. Use these techniques to help you find inner wisdom and release any fear.

Yoga for Winter

Your yoga practice needs to reflect the energy and the element of the season. Slowing down the pace, to allow you to absorb the benefits of the poses. Enjoying gentle movement to create a sense of flow.  Generating strength and warmth to provide balance.

You can use forward and back bends to help strengthen the spine. They also help to make you feel more grounded and energised. These poses have the added benefit of cleansing your kidneys and bladder, thus promoting the water element within your body and strengthening your connection to the element of the season. You can also introduce poses that help to rejuvenate the brain and nervous system such as bridge pose or balancing poses such as tree pose. These poses can increase focus and relaxation - all wonderful for winter!

Using breathing techniques and daily meditation, you can also rejuvenate and increase your sense of calm. Allow yourself to become aware of your breath, try to detach yourself from external sounds and bring your awareness to your physical body. This will help to reduce anxiety and still the mind.

WINTER is about slowing down, being aware of your breathing, and resting. It is also about creating balance with flow, warmth and generating strength.  It is important that you acknowledge the season. This will ensure that you are prepared for the increasing sun and warmth that will come as you move into Spring with the ever-continuing cycling of the seasons.

There are many ways you can ensure that you honour the winter season as well as ensure you are prepared for spring. Here are some simple ways to help you:

•  Rest! Sleep longer if you can.

• Try to stay calm and warm, minimising stress as much as possible. 

• Consider starting your day with a five-minute meditation, thinking positive thoughts of peace and calm.

• Take responsibility for how you feel and take care of yourself. Create appointments with yourself like you would a doctor, dentist or optician appointment to do something for you.

• Combine strong and stimulating yoga with gentle restorative practises to bring about balance.

• Eat hearty hot food to keep warm. Stews, soups with seasonal root vegetables, seaweed and fish.

• Try to avoid excess salt and cold foods as these chill the kidneys.

• Use essential oils such as juniper and ginger and rub oils into your skin to boost the blood flow, create heat and stimulate your lymphatic system.

• Factor in regular mini-moments of rest and reflection throughout the day.

It can be challenging at this time of year to recognise that it is still the middle of winter. Society wants you to make changes, and resolutions and start the year with energy and enthusiasm. See if you can take a step back and tune in with nature. It will mean that you have the resources to move forward when Spring comes.