The Winter Solstice is a transformation. It is a time of change and a time of accepting that change as you prepare for what comes next.

The Winter Solstice signals you to ground and rest and prepare for the coming cold, dry, recuperative season. A few grounding asanas that open up your hips is a great way to enter the winter season.

Grounding helps you to settle so that you can grow. The winter season starting with the Winter Solstice is a great time to focus on grounding and centering in  your journey.

The winter is a time of quiet growth. Nature seems dormant and still during the winter, but during this time there is growth that you do not see happening. It is the same with you and your yoga practice.

These are a few yoga practices to help you prepare your body and mind so that you can ground, center and quietly grow:

Asanas

Baddha Konasana - Cobbler’s Pose or Butterfly Pose

Virasana - Hero’s Pose

Parivrtta Ardha Padmasana - Seated Half Twist

Anjaneyasana - Low Lunge

Pranayama

Nadi Shodhana - Alternate Nostril Breathing

Alternate Nostril Breathing helps you to balance, center and relax. This creates the fertile soil that you want so that your grounding prepares you for the coming growth in the New Year.

Mind

Your yoga journey, through these winter solstice yoga practices of grounding asanas and balancing pranayama will give you the energy you need to stop and align. In stillness there is movement and that is the secret of growth in nature during the winter season. Why not for you?

Just a few moments of being present with your breath can help you to relax. Just feel it and sense it and watch it and hear it and be with it…just for a few breaths.

This centering helps you to reflect and align your body and mind with your dreams and goals for the coming year.

Distractions are many. Quiet time to reflect and prepare are few.

Embrace this rare time of year to ground, center, reflect, align and grow.

Namaste…