Restorative Yoga Poses for The Winter Season
- nizhonicounseling
- Nov 7, 2023
- 4 min read
By: Shalon Drags Wolf
As we get into the winter season, the colder weather can often leave us feeling lethargic and sluggish. Along with shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures, and the holiday season, it is important to take care of oneself both physically and mentally. Incorporating restorative yoga poses into our daily routine can help us feel more energized and refreshed. Restorative yoga is a gentle and calming practice that focuses on relaxation and stress reduction, making it perfect for the winter season. One of the great things about this style of yoga is that it can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their level of flexibility or experience with yoga. The poses are designed to be accessible to all and can be modified to suit individual needs. This style incorporates uses of props such as blocks, blankets, and bolsters to support the body during poses, allowing for longer holds and deeper relaxation.
Now if the practice becomes intense or overwhelming of sensations that present themselves, please discontinue the exercise.
Seated poses, such as the Easy pose and the Half-Lotus pose, are perfect for those who are looking for relaxing and calming practice during the winter season. These poses help to promote mental clarity and focus, and they can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. In these poses you can cover yourself in a blanket and sit on a pillow to alleviate the hips if comfortable to you. As you’re sitting tall, you’ll be lengthening the spine while strengthening the back. Finding your rhythm/pace of breath and tuning inward.
One restorative pose that is particularly beneficial in the winter is supported Wisdom pose. This pose can help to calm the mind and relieve stress, which can be especially important during the hectic holiday season. This pose gently stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles while also providing a sense of grounding and comfort. To do this pose, start on your knees with a bolster or two stacked pillows in front of you. Place your torso and forehead on the bolster/pillows, allowing your arms to rest alongside your body or to reach forward. Take slow, deep breaths and relax into the pose for several minutes.
Another restorative yoga pose that can be helpful during the winter season is Legs Up the Wall pose. In this pose, you lie on your back and rest your legs up against a wall or two stacked pillows. This gentle inversion can help improve circulation and reduce swelling in the legs and feet. It can also help calm the mind and promote relaxation.
In addition to these poses, gentle twists can be especially useful during the winter season. They help to stimulate the digestive system, which can become sluggish during the colder months. Twists also help to detoxify the body, removing any toxins and promoting better overall health. They can also help to improve spinal mobility, which can be especially important for those who spend a lot of time sitting or standing during the day.
Forward folds are another great restorative pose that can help in reducing stress and tension in the body, as they help to release tension in the neck, shoulders, and back. Forward folds also help to promote better sleep by calming the mind and reducing anxiety. For this pose, place the feet hip width distance apart and hinge at the hip crease to forward fold. Shake the head yes/no or sway the torso gently side to side. Stay in the pose 3-5 rounds of breath.
In addition to restorative yoga, incorporating grounding and strengthening poses into your routine can also be beneficial during the winter season. Grounding poses, such as Mountain and Tree, can help to bring a sense of stability and balance to the body and mind. Strengthening poses, such as Plank and Downward Dog, can help to build strength in the body and increase circulation, keeping you warm during the colder months.
When practicing yoga invite an inspiration, a feeling/attitude, which fills your practice with life. So that it becomes a force that transforms your life in line with your own highest intentions. Along with inspiration, the experience of yoga is the direct outcome of what you bring to your practice and how you participate in what yoga has to offer. Invite yourself to recognize sensations/ thoughts/ wanted or unwanted. Acknowledge the presence whether it’s lingering in the body, or it naturally presents itself to you.
Now if the practice becomes intense or overwhelming of sensations that present themselves, please discontinue the exercise.
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