A 27-Minute Winters' Nap
A yoga nidra practice for the winter solstice. Things get brighter from here, friends
Happy Solstice! If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, last night was the longest of the year. Maybe you celebrated by staying up late and making merry (I’m not Persian, but the idea of spending the night drinking tea, eating pomegranates, and reading poetry sounds especially delightful) - or perhaps you enjoyed nature’s invitation to get a little extra sleep.
As of 10:03 am in my time zone, it will officially be winter. It’s never made a lot of sense to me that the date when daylight begins once again to lengthen marks the first day of the chilly season - shouldn’t it be the middle? - but I’m a yoga teacher, Jim, not a calendarist.
The dark and quiet of these winter days gently nudges us to draw our focus inward, gathering nourishment and enjoying rest. In yoga nidra, we relax the body and the conscious mind, entering the dreamlike space between waking and sleeping. The practice included here is an invitation to take a “long winter’s nap”, enjoying some seasonal imagery while planting a seed of intention for the months ahead.
In keeping with my desire and intention, if not my learned inclination, to honor the darker, slower season by resting and doing less, this will be my last post of the year. (You’ll probably find me in Notes and comments, however, as I allow myself the luxury on catching up on other people’s abundant and beautiful writing!)
I hope the remainder of 2025 finds you safe, warm, and well. Brighter days are ahead - that’s not wishful thinking; it’s just astronomy.
How are you celebrating the (gradual) return of sunlight? What does your intuition tell you is most important right now as you gather energy and resources for the coming year?
Do these yoga practices, meditations, recipes, and reflections help you feel more Well Rooted?
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Below: a 27-minute yoga nidra for intuition and rest at the winter solstice. Enjoy when you have the opportunity to close your eyes and relax completely - and not in seasonal traffic!
