Happy New Year – Welcome to 2023!
Welcome to 2023!
A brand new 12 months sit before us filled with possibility, excitement and a little bit of wonder. I’m quite excited for this year, I have lots of new yoga adventures on the horizon and I can’t wait to share them with all of you – but before we get to the new stuff let’s take a moment to reflect.
We are now officially in winter, the water element season – this is a time to reflect, relax and renew our energy levels. By taking some time out over the winter months, when the weather is horrid, we can replenish our depleted energy levels leaving us ready for the build up to spring and summer. While we may have a long way to go until the warmer weather, we can begin to take time to prioritise our self-care and wellbeing now. This will help us stave off the stresses of heading back to work or living through the seemingly endless dark of January.
I find it difficult at this time of year, the lights of Christmas have faded and it’s dark and miserable outside. Spring seems a lifetime away and this leaves me feeling low, anxious and unable to sleep. But using my yoga tools and the wisdom of the water element I have been able to reflect on what works to support me and what doesn’t.
Stepping on my mat is the first step towards managing my low mood at this time of the year. I find that I need a mixture of movement and stillness to help me find that balance, and this is true of the water element in general. To balance too much yin, we need a little bit of yang (or movement) and to truly embrace the season we need to embrace the slowness of yin by settling in and allowing ourselves to relax.
If this sounds like something you might benefit from, then join me on the mat for a special 45-minute Yang to Yin New Year yoga class. This class begins with some movement building balance and grounding our energies, before settling into some slower and more yin poses. Carve out a bit of time just for you to practice this class and give yourself the support of the water element thorough movement and stillness.
