Can you feel the winter blues brewing?
Maybe you’re overwhelmed by demands at work, perhaps life changes have left you scrambling, or you might be neglecting your self-care because suddenly priorities have shifted and you just don’t have the energy.
One of the reasons why I ask students before class how they are feeling is not only to customise the practice around their needs, but to offer them support specific to each season. At the moment, the typical reply to how they’re feeling may be “fine”, but when asked again at the end of class, suddenly a deluge is released of everything happening in their life – grief or some other family upheaval, domestic mental load, exhaustion, insomnia or anxiety, a new job or job loss. It’s a misnomer to assume everyone is broken, but more often I suspect when a person is trying to be stoic that there’s more to their internal narrative than just “fine”. Perhaps mindful movement helps loosen some of what is pent up inside, and perhaps they realise I mean what I say when I promise a safe space for authenticity. But don’t underestimate the influence of this season.
You see, in summer we can distract ourselves with activities and social events, and sunshine helps perk up many a low day, but in winter when we’re consistently indoors and the days are grey….
there’s a reason winter is the season for deep reflection.
It’s the time of year when lethargy and heaviness are natural. We may want to feel light and agile to maintain the demands of a busy schedule or the appearance of “fine”, but perhaps we need to consider that winter slows us down in order to benefit from effective reflection.
So, if you’re feeling like you want to hibernate –
- allow yourself to be honest about how you’re feeling, both with yourself and in safe spaces among trusted friends. There is a sense of relief when we are our authentic selves.
- understand slowing down does not imply you’re lazy. A mindful approach to winter means harnessing the power of slowing down. It’s a conscious choice of the moment to reflect the pace of the season.
- don’t sacrifice your self-care in the process. Maintain consistency in your healing treatments, such as massage or even just coffee with friends. And don’t forget to maintain a consistent yoga practice to reap the most benefits. Mindful movement is a progressive craft; it’s called a practice for a reason.
Let this winter season be the reason to embrace a healthy, honest pause.