It’s time to unwind.
I was listening to Sadhguru last night as he shared the importance of spending time alone. He wasn’t urging his listeners to take isolation or embrace separatism. He was simply encouraging the practice of being.
We get to practice being in the Winter months. It’s a time to slow down and turn inward; however, it can be difficult due to the nature of our society. We have created a culture that values newness, creation, growth and expansion.
He went on to explain the nature of humanity and how, when sitting alone, we are inactive and for the most part… peaceful. It is typically when we gather that we lean into our compulsive nature. Sadhguru believes that this is not who we truly are and that our compulsiveness derives from consumption of other’s ideas and actions, media, books, and so on. He’s not saying to avoid the outside world and become a recluse, but he does encourage spending time each day alone to observe the mind and find stillness. In that stillness, we learn what it means to be a human being. We were meant to simply be human by observing, witnessing, watching, listening… being. In this way, life can be a meditation.
We get to practice being in the Winter months. It’s a time to slow down and turn inward; however, it can be difficult due to the nature of our society. We have created a culture that values newness, creation, growth and expansion. These are all characteristics of the Spring and Summer, which is only half of the year. When we look outside, nature does not bloom and grow all year round. Even in the warmest climates, there are cycles of change. I’ve discovered through my practice the importance of living with the cycles of the environment in which you live. It brings about balance, peace, acceptance, truth and an understanding of Self.
Winter lovingly grants me permission to rest and reflect on all that transpired the year prior. It’s the perfect opportunity to witness who I am without productivity, accomplishments, and growth.
Winter continues to be the most challenging season as slowing down feels like we’re going against the grain. Especially with work and running a business, there’s always a push from outside forces to keep going full-speed and never stop. It’s a narrative that’s been created amongst ourselves and living outside of it is freeing. Winter lovingly grants me permission to rest and reflect on all that transpired the year prior. It’s the perfect opportunity to witness who I am without productivity, accomplishments, and growth. Winter reassures me that I am enough simply being in space and time, and that the work will be there to meet me in the Spring.
My physical practice has slowed down; but, I still incorporate hot yoga and vinyasa into my week as it’s familiar and keeps my body warm. I avoid the pressures of an early morning practice and roll out my mat in the late afternoon and evening hours. I tend to gravitate more toward yin yoga and meditation, to relax lingering tensions and calm the mind.
For me, Yoga is more than the poses. I weave Yoga into everything I do: work, projects, home-life, relationships, etc. I walk this life with the Yoga practice as my roadmap, and so far it’s brought me to places I never dreamed were possible. As I settle into a Winter yoga practice, that looks like keeping a light weekly schedule and factoring in time to rest, spending more time at home with my family and a good read, maintaining what I’ve manifested in my career and business, and working smarter not harder. It’s not the time to force a new routine, workout regimen, or skill. It’s simply a time to exercise what I have readily available to me.
My physical practice has slowed down; but, I still incorporate hot yoga and vinyasa into my week as it’s familiar and keeps my body warm. I avoid the pressures of an early morning practice and roll out my mat in the late afternoon and evening hours. I tend to gravitate more toward yin yoga and meditation, to relax lingering tensions and calm the mind. It’s funny because the holidays tend to get everyone in a frenzy with the constant gathering, eating, consuming, and buying. It’s definitely not in alignment with nature, especially with the Winter Solstice right before; but, it is a beautiful time to be with friends and family, so I think being aware of it is all you need to slow down soon after and begin your Winter practice.
I wish you a happy Winter season! Don’t be a stranger. Join us for one of the many offerings at the studio to help us all stay centered through the darker months.
Blessings!