The calm, dark and quiet nature of the winter can seem… how do I say this? Oppressive! The combination of the winter season and the stress of the times can leave us feeling weighed down, stagnant, or uninspired.
Here is the BIG Ayurveda tip to counteract this: double down your commitment to yoga.
An invigorating and expansive yoga practice during winter can be surprisingly supportive of your overall well-being. Below are some specific recommendations to practice yoga during winter.
Here are the go-to yoga poses to bring vigor to your life this winter:
Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana)
Forward bends and bacbends are also recommended, as are postures that stimulate metabolism like:
Cobra (Bhujangasana)
Bow (Dhanurasana)
Side Plank (Vasisthasana)
Supine twists like Revolved Abdomen Variation (Jathara Parivartanasana Variation)
Of course you can adapt your practice on a daily basis to work with your local climate (as you know and your internal needs. For example if you feel stressed and depleted (Vata imbalance), move at a slower and gentler pace. Or if you feel unmotivated and lethargic (Kapha imbalance), move at a faster pace, allowing your breath to quicken and your inner heat to intensify. I know this makes total sense but sometimes you need to read it somewhere.
However you practice, PRACTICE. Practice with an expansive heart and hold your poses long enough to feel challenged.
In addition to your yoga practice, cultivate a supportive winter-season diet and lifestyle. These may look quite different from one person to the next, but each of us has a great deal to gain from honoring and aligning ourselves with the rhythms of nature.
