As winter approaches, nature gently invites us into wintering – a time of rest, conservation, and turning inward. The days grow quieter, the light softens, and we are reminded that slowing down is not a failure, but a wisdom woven into the seasons. Here in stillness, allow your body to soften, trusting that rest is an essential part of renewal.
The Season of Turning Inward
Wintering is not about doing less for the sake of withdrawal; it is about doing what is essential. In nature, seeds lie dormant beneath frozen ground, trees draw their sap inward, and animals conserve their energy. Nothing is wasted, nothing is rushed. When we align ourselves with this seasonal rhythm, we give ourselves permission to rest without guilt. Winter becomes a sacred pause – a necessary chapter in the larger cycle of growth.
In modern life, this invitation can feel counter-cultural. We are taught to push forward, maintain momentum, and keep producing. Yet our nervous systems, hormones, and emotional bodies respond deeply to seasonal cues. Wintering allows us to restore balance, replenish depleted reserves, and reconnect with an inner sense of steadiness that cannot be accessed through constant activity.
Wintering Through a Yogic Lens
From a yogic perspective, winter aligns with pratyahara – the withdrawal of the senses – and tamas in its balanced form: grounding, stabilizing, and deeply nourishing. Rather than resisting this energy, we can consciously work with it. Yoga becomes less about stretching or strengthening and more about listening, feeling, and being.
This is the season to soften ambition and shift intention. Practices become slower, quieter, and more introspective. We move not to achieve a shape, but to sense the subtle currents of breath, sensation, and awareness moving beneath the surface.
Yoga Practices for Wintering
Winter yoga invites us to linger. Yin yoga, restorative poses, and slow, mindful flows are especially supportive during this time. Long-held poses that gently compress and hydrate the joints – such as butterfly, dragonfly, or supported child’s pose – help nourish connective tissues and encourage deep release. Props become allies: bolsters, blankets, and blocks create a feeling of safety and containment.
Practices are ideally grounded and close to the earth. Seated and supine poses calm the nervous system, while gentle forward folds encourage introspection. Rather than going strong in energizing backbends or strong heating sequences, we find balance and choose movements that soothe and stabilize, allowing the body to rest in its natural rhythm.
Breath, Stillness, and Subtle Energy
Winter is an ideal time to explore slower pranayama practices. Lengthened exhalations, gentle nasal breathing, or simple breath awareness help quiet mental chatter and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Silence becomes part of the practice – not something to fill, but something to trust.
Meditation during wintering can be simple and embodied. Rather than striving for clarity or insight, we rest our attention in sensation: the weight of the body, the warmth of blankets, the steady rise and fall of the breath. In this way, stillness itself becomes the teacher.
Beyond the Mat: Living the Practice of Wintering
Wintering extends far beyond yoga class. It is reflected in earlier bedtimes, warmer meals, fewer commitments, and more spacious days. It may look like journaling by candlelight, taking slow walks in quiet landscapes, or allowing emotions to surface without needing to fix them.
This is also a time to gently tend to our inner world – reflecting on the year that has passed, releasing what feels complete, and listening for what is quietly gestating within. Just as the earth prepares invisibly for spring, so too are we gathering the energy that will eventually bloom.
Trusting the Pause
Winter teaches us that rest is not an interruption to life – it is life. When we honour wintering, we step back into harmony with the natural world and with our own deeper wisdom. By embracing slowness, softness, and simplicity, we create the conditions for true renewal.
As you move through this season, let your yoga practice, your breath, and your daily rhythms remind you: nothing is lost in rest. Beneath the stillness, something essential is quietly becoming.
We look forward to practicing with you online and in the studio throughout this wintering season ahead!
By Leah Marie Serna, E-RYT 200, yoga practitioner, meditator, and co-owner / yoga instructor at Studio Nine. She teaches the Monday Move to Meditate classes, the Tuesday and Thursday morning Foundations & noon Flow classes and Wednesday Yin & Kundalini classes. She also serves as the yoga studio manager.