Yoga for Transitioning from Autumn to Winter
Around the end of October to mid-December in the Northern Hemisphere or the end of April to mid-June in the Southern Hemisphere is when the seasons change, temperature drops, leaves fall, and daytime shortens.
Do you feel the changes around you and within you?
Although this year we had a slightly different experience globally in the shifting of seasons, we finally hear the swift footsteps of autumn and even signs of winter.
Autumn is a time which all of nature prepares for the upcoming Winter, and so do we. In many traditions, this time of the year is considered as the darkest phase of the year. Mother Nature enters her releasing, cleansing, resting, and healing time — in preparation for tilling the soil for the next seeding season. It is beneficial to observe and follow nature’s wisdom and adapt our daily routine and yoga practices accordingly. As the weather becomes colder in late Fall, plenty of rest and downtime for relaxation and contemplation are advisable.
“In the dark and watery depths, you can gain understanding of that which must be healed and released. Dive down and honor your qualities of fluidity.” — Pixie Lighthourse
How to make your Autumn-Winter transition smooth and lovable
Learn and relearn about boundary setting, conflict resolution, accountability, and repair. Take time to review and release your journey in the past month. Offer your gratitude to all that has been in your life, and gracefully let go of things no longer serve you.
Pause and take deep breaths. Give your opinions time to marinate. Reinforce your commitment to self-care.
Journal and spend time writing without filter. Give yourself the freedom to be honest to yourself, and free your intuition and inner guidance to support your healing process.
Meditate on a regular basis either on your own or with guidance. Learn all the ways you can work with your mind and befriend with yourself.
Autumn to Winter Meditation Questions
The autumn-winter period is a time of drawing inwards, resting, and recuperating. You can use these questions as journaling or meditation prompts on these questions during this transitioning period.
How do I want to feel in the coming season?
What are my natural physical and emotional tendencies in the coming season?
How will I go about nurturing and nourishing myself over the winter?
Which kind of yoga practices will energize me and support me both physically and mentally?
How can I implement a slow and steady process of finding guidance? Where can you sit in stillness while you wait for wisdom to come to you?
Autumn to Winter Yoga Practices
During late autumn to early winter, a grounding, calming, soothing, and gently energizing asana (movement) practice is favourable to help the body stay active while allowing lot of room for rest and restore. Practices such as Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Nurturing Flow, Soothing Flow, Restorative Yoga, and Candlelight Yin are all practices suitable for this season. Keeping the body in a warmer temperature, moderate humidity and adequate hydration is key to support and amplify the benefits of asana and all aspects of yoga practice.
At the studio, we have a new favourite class designed for transitioning of all stages. It is Self-Care Thursday! It is a 60-minute class that is a fusion of yin and restorative yoga. In this class we explore meditation, breath-work along with a slow paced deep-stretch yin practice. The target of the class is to leave people feeling calm, deeply relaxed and grounded — perfect fitting for this autumn-winter transition.
Our classes are heated through infrared heat. The warmth in our studio environment is comfortably and mildly warm. Practicing yoga in mild infrared heat has numerous benefits, including reduction of stress & tension, boosting the immune system, increasing blood circulation, and providing a perfect environment for the body in the cold weather for a smooth and healthy seasonal transition.