Wintering with Yin Yoga

As the days grow shorter and colder and darker, I crave warmth and comfort. Turns out, so do my yoga students. This time of year, our yin yoga evening classes are waitlisted every single week at YogaSpace. The space is filled with people looking to cozy up in the candlelit room and retreat from the literal and figurative chill of winter.

My favorite book to read every winter is called "Wintering". The author, Katherine May, drives home the point of using the time before the winter chill takes over completely to set ourselves up for positivity and finding light in the darkness.

“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.” ― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

What Does Yin Yoga Have to Do With Wintering?

Yin Yoga is a gentle, slow-paced style focusing on passive stretching and deep relaxation. Unlike Yang styles, which are more physically demanding, Yin Yoga invites us to settle into poses for several minutes. This approach encourages a meditative mindset, making it ideal for the introspective and quieter winter months.

The stillness of yin redirects our focus inward, helping us all reconnect with ourselves and build resilience against the cold.

The Essence of Hygge

Hygge is a Danish concept that emphasizes creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying life's simple pleasures. To me, hygge goes beyond cozy blankets and warm drinks—it’s about nurturing a sense of comfort and connection both within myself and with my surroundings.

Every day until the weather warms up, you'll find me snuggling a cup of tea with honey, lighting candles, burning incense and playing soft jazz. This is my form of 'centering' that helps me fight off any potential seasonal depression that is so common here in Canada. Find your ritual and plan to add it to your days, every day.

Candles and tea create a cozy atmosphere for winter yoga practice

Creating a Cozy Winter Yoga Space

Transforming my practice space into a cozy retreat is key for my winter wellness. This is a big part of why yoga students sneak away to the studio even though they have to commute through the cold - because the design itself feelings inspiring. But sometimes trudging through the snow to the studio is impossible, so can create your winter space at home by adding:

Soft Textiles: Plush blankets and cushions make a significant difference in my comfort level. A thick yoga mat and blanket keeps me warm during longer poses.

Lighting: Besides candles, I love draping soft string lights around my space. Instead of harsh overhead lighting, I opt for lamps with warm tones that mimic a soothing sunset, creating an environment that feels either twilight.

Essential Oils: Using a diffuser, I add calming scents like lavender and cedarwood. Research shows that lavender can reduce anxiety levels by up to 60%, enhancing both focus and relaxation during my practice.

Natural Elements: My home is a plant sanctuary, but in the winter months, I even add baskets of pinecones and evergreens, to reconnect me to nature and remind me of winter's beauty. Studies show that spending time in nature can uplift mood and reduce stress by around 30%, making this a beautiful way to enhance my space.

Embracing Wintering

The concept of wintering emphasizes honoring life’s cycles. It’s a reminder that every season serves a purpose, with winter's quietude offering its own kind of magic. By layering my Yin practice with the principles of wintering, I embrace a slower rhythm that suits this time of year.

During winter, I prioritize restorative practices, lingering in poses that nourish my spirit. Poses like Supta Baddha Konasana and Viparita Karani allow my body to unwind deeply. I’ve learned to listen attentively to my body’s needs for rest and renewal, rather than pushing through the urge to stay busy.

“Here is another truth about wintering: you’ll find wisdom in your winter, and once it’s over, it’s your responsibility to pass it on. And in return, it’s our responsibility to listen to those who have wintered before us. It’s an exchange of gifts in which nobody loses out. This may involve the breaking of a lifelong habit, one passed down carefully through generations: that of looking at other people’s misfortunes and feeling certain that they brought them upon themselves in a way that you never would. This isn’t just an unkind attitude. It does us harm, because it keeps us from learning that disasters do indeed happen and how we can adapt when they do. It stops us from reaching out to those who are suffering. And when our own disaster comes, it forces us into a humiliated retreat, as we try to hunt down mistakes that we never made in the first place or wrongheaded attitudes that we never held. Either that, or we become certain that there must be someone out there we can blame. Watching winter and really listening to its messages, we learn that effect is often disproportionate to cause; that tiny mistakes can lead to huge disasters; that life is often bloody unfair, but it carries on happening with or without our consent. We learn to look more kindly on other people’s crises, because they are so often portents of our own future.” ― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

A Winter-Inspired Yin Session

Here’s a simple Yin Yoga session that I enjoy during the winter:

Start with Breath: Find a comfortable seated or lying position. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, inviting calmness into your mind and body.
Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana): Sit with the soles of your feet together, letting your knees drop open, fold forward and release. Hold for 3 to 5 minutes, focusing on your breath.
Supported Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana): Place a block under your sacrum and relax your body. Stay in this position for 5 to 10 minutes, melting into the support.
Reclining Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana): Let your knees fall to one side, encouraging gentle spinal rotation. Breathe into your side for 3 to 5 minutes before switching sides.
Savasana: End your session with a restorative posture. Wrap yourself in a soft blanket, allowing your body to rest completely and embrace the stillness.

Yoga practice in a cozy corner in winter

Nurturing Cozy Connection

Embracing Yin Yoga every winter creates a sense of warmth and comfort in my life. By integrating hygge and the principles of wintering, I’ve gained a deeper awareness of my inner self and enhanced my overall well-being. I used to loathe the winter months, and leave for as much of them as possible. But now, I spend the year training my brain in the cold plunge to adapt to cooler temperatures. I skate and snowboard and toboggan outside all the time in winter. I planned to undo my seasonal saddness and replace it with excitement, calm and coziness.