Winter Newsletter

Seasonal news round-up

Greetings Friends!

Welcome to the Winter Newsletter!

I hope you feel ready to settle into the most Yin months of the year. In Chinese Five Element Theory Winter is associated with the Water element – an element which is situated at both the beginning and the end of the cycle.

The organs are the Kidneys and Bladder. The Bladder is the longest meridian, with 67 points - starting in the eye socket and ending in the little toe! Water represents downward energy…stillness and depth; it’s also all about our ability to change course and to flow around any obstacles that are in our way. 

Think about how water can be still, deep, flexible and yet tremendously powerful. It can also take many forms from ice to mist. The natural energy of the Water element is resting and still…this is the time to hibernate, cozy up and restore/recharge your batteries so you have plenty of energy for the more Yang months of the year. 

Your attention is likely to be drawn inwards at this time and you may appreciate this slower pace of life as an opportunity to reflect. You might also feel a little more sensitive, so be kind to yourself and make allowances. Most of all make sure you listen to your body and mind’s deep need for REST at this time of year.

Warm wishes

Rachel

 

winter in the woods

 

Reflecting on 2023

It’s been a challenging few years for everyone hasn’t it? It feels like there's been a lot of instability and strife in our world for a while, at home and abroad. At times like this we need the practices of Yoga even more than ever so that we can stay grounded and centred when all around us appears to be flying out of control. And we need to remember that despite the bad news, most people in our world are good, and want the best for their fellow humans as well as themselves. 

Yoga actually comes into its own when our lives are at their most challenging, though sometimes then we feel devoting time to our own wellbeing is "selfish" when in fact we instinctively know that no-one can pour from an empty cup. Those wellbeing practices enable us to support and service others without becoming completely depleted. 

Are you devoting enough time to looking after yourself? Maybe something to reflect on for the coming year...

walk in snow

 

Things to do in the Winter

  • Get plenty of REST – early nights and late mornings
  • Take short naps during the day (around 3 is good) to restore energy
  • Take up a meditation practice – even just 10 minutes a day will make a difference
  • Keep your kidneys warm (the area around the back of your waist & lower back);
  • Drink plenty of water – aim for a glass every hour or two through the day, and 8 glasses overall
  • “Rubbing the Kidneys” is a Qigong exercise perfect for Winter and said to increase longevity
  • Take stock of where you are in your life
  • Take walks outside (wrapped up warm) but don’t overtire yourself
  • Gentle Yoga – high energy practices are not recommended at this time. Yin Yoga is great.
  • Work on releasing fear – the emotion associated with out of balance kidney energy
  • Try and “go with the flow” more rather than feeling like you’re moving against the tide
  • Take this time to reflect on where you are in life…no hasty decisions, but re-evaluation.
walk in the snow

 

Winter Nutrition

  • Warm foods at this time of year!
  • Black, blue and purple foods are said to support the Kidneys – black beans, kidney beans, red onions, red cabbage, blueberries, blackberries
  • Seaweeds and foods that are rich in minerals like seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, hemp, flax) are great
  • Celery is highly recommended for its mineral content**
  • Use warming spices like ginger in soups, stews and curries, especially if you feel the cold
  • Think slow-cooked nourishing foods rather than quickly prepared or raw ones – roasting and grilling are especially good;
  • Always look at what vegetables and fruits are in season in your area and make their use a priority
  •  

    ** you can make great soups with celery. My favourite has cashew nuts added to give it a creamy texture: Celery and cashew nut soup recipe here

    https://growingcommunities.org/recipes/celery-and-cashew-nut-soup 

red cabbage

 

 

Online Classes 

Having spent a few months fully online during the pandemic, a few classes have remained that way: 

The Wednesday morning “gentle” class is “hybrid” which means it happens both online and in person, in Letchworth 

The Thursday evening class remains largely online though we meet in person once per season which is always lovely. 

Monthly Yin Yoga remains Online – last Friday of each month, 6.30-7.45pm 

The Online Studio, with a variety of Seasonal classes including Yang Yoga, Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidras, is FREE to everyone who registers for 2 classes per week with me; and only £10 per month if you register for 1 weekly class. Access to this resource enables you to take a class with a familiar teacher (me!) as and when you want, at a time that suits you. 

Students tell me they find it especially useful when they have missed their regular class for whatever reason and also if they want to practice more than once a week. Research shows that shorter more frequent yoga sessions are more beneficial than for example a 3 hour workshop once a fortnight…

yoga online with Zoom

 

 

Yin Yoga 

Everyone needs a little Yin Time! 

The Yin class on Zoom runs on the last Friday of each month - 6.30-7.45pm. Investment - £12 per session, or if fundraising, donation of your choice. 

 Our first class of 2024 takes place on 26 January and will be a lovely Watery practice Yin Yoga classes often include a little Qigong for the season, as well as other practices including pranayama, meditation & relaxation.

yin yoga pose

 

Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training Course 

As mentioned last season, we finished our first Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training with 7 lovely new teachers, and are now only a couple of months away from finishing the second course. Look out for news of the latest set of graduates in the Spring! 

We already have bookings for our 2024 course, which starts in June. It's an amazing course which dives deep into every aspect of Yoga, as well as the Chinese 5 Elements. You don’t have to want to teach, you may just want to have a year of personal evolution, devoted to you and your wellbeing. Either way we’ll support and nurture you through the year and you will have an amazing time. As Alison, one of our first set of graduates says, this is “A joyful, demanding learning experience!

 

For further information on the course, see our Teacher Training page here: 

https://ahimsayoga.co.uk/teacher

Find out more about this 200 hour Yoga Alliance accredited course here:

https://seasonalyoga.net/locations/letchworth-location/

 

If you want a no obligation chat about whether this course is for you, just message me.

 

 

Workshops!

Running the Teacher Training course as well as my regular classes takes a lot of my energy, as well as one weekend per month out of my schedule. But I am keen to run regular workshops as I know a lot of people find these really beneficial. 

If there is a particular subject you would like me to run a workshop on please let me know. 

What does a workshop involve? Most of my workshops run for 3-4 hours in a morning or afternoon. 

Do we practice physical postures for all that time? Definitely not!

Workshops will offer a variety of practices including breathwork, meditation and information. I also generally allow time for chat and a cuppa together. Are the workshops suitable for me? I make them suitable for the people who are attending.

workshop

“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”

TKV Desikachar