I used to fight winter. As someone with a naturally fiery, “do-er” mindset, I’ve always struggled with slowing down. I thrive in the movement, the momentum, the action. But winter has a way of forcing me to pause—whether I like it or not.
In Kabbalah, we learn that the pause is just as important as the action. It’s in the space between where transformation happens. And winter, in all its stillness, asks us to embrace that lesson. The trees don’t force their leaves to grow. The bears don’t resist their hibernation. Yet, as humans, we often resist the very thing nature so effortlessly accepts: rest.
The Medicine of Yoga in Winter
Yoga has been my greatest teacher in this season of slowing down. When my mind tells me to keep pushing, yoga reminds me to listen instead. It allows me to meet winter where it is—not as a time of loss or stagnation, but as a necessary cycle of restoration.
Here’s why winter is the perfect time to step onto your mat:
🌿 Replenish Energy – Instead of burning out, yoga teaches us to harness our energy wisely. Slow, grounding poses like child’s pose and supported bridge help restore what we’ve depleted.
❄️ Build Inner Heat – Gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation stoke the internal fire without exhausting it. Think of it as tending to glowing embers rather than burning a wildfire.
🌀 Strengthen Resilience – Just like nature prepares for spring underground, yoga helps us build quiet strength. Holding a pose, embracing discomfort, and breathing through it all mirrors the patience winter demands of us.
🌙 Embrace the Pause – In a world that glorifies busyness, winter and yoga both invite us to listen, reflect, and trust in stillness. The pause isn’t wasted time—it’s preparation for what’s coming next.
What Winter Can Teach Us About the Seasons Ahead
Taking a yoga class in the last months of winter isn’t just about stretching your body—it’s about stretching your perspective. When spring arrives, it will ask you to bloom. But first, you must be willing to root down. Winter is the time to nurture those roots, to sit with yourself, to honor the stillness before the next great wave of movement.
So, if you find yourself resisting rest, if you feel the fire inside pushing you forward when your body is asking you to pause—consider stepping into a yoga class. Let yourself be guided by breath, by presence, by the wisdom of winter itself.
Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do… is nothing at all.
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