I feel like it’s been a while since I checked in with my tribe. Partly because life has been overwhelmingly busy, but also because, if I’m honest, I haven’t been feeling particularly inspired.

The place I find myself in right now feels like a holding space—a quiet in-between. It’s the space between no longer and not yet. The old year is behind me, and while the new year is officially here, it seems to invite us to pause, to embrace stillness, and to take the opportunity to go inward.

A new year is often seen as a time to author a new book—12 chapters long and 365 pages deep. Yet, as I sit with the energy of this season, I feel called to share a different perspective, one that may resonate with you.

For me, this time of year isn’t about pushing forward with fresh intentions or launching ambitious resolutions. Instead, it feels like an invitation to honor the natural rhythm of the season, to retreat inward, and to pause.

Many of you who live in Florida, like I do, have been enjoying the cooler mornings that truly feel like winter in Southwest Florida. While I adore the warmth, I can’t help but miss the changing seasons and the unique energy each one brings. Moving here from New York 21 years ago has given me a deep appreciation for those seasonal transitions. From the sprouting blooms of spring to the vibrant leaves of autumn and the stillness of winter, each season carries its own beauty and wisdom—and its magic always brought me joy.

I’m reminded of those cold, quiet winter days up north when staying home felt like the perfect retreat—a homebody’s delight. Florida may not see snow or dramatic seasonal changes, but the cooler air this time of year is a gracious reminder of what season we’re in, inviting us to slow down, savor the moment, and embrace the gifts of winter—even if it’s sometimes hard to tell what season it is here in Florida!

The older I get, the more I realize how nature speaks to me. It comforts me, holds me, and mesmerizes me, reminding me of truths I once knew but had forgotten.

Katherine May coined the term "wintering" in her book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times:

Definition: "Wintering" is the idea of slowing down and retreating during difficult times in life. It's about changing your perspective on winter and seeing it as a time for healing and regrowth. This is what it means to “winter”. It is not a time for blooming or producing, but for resting, reflecting, and allowing ourselves the grace to simply be.

Winter whispers a wisdom we often overlook. Research confirms what our instincts already know:
Winter draws us toward rest, making us crave more sleep.
The lack of sunlight slows our energy and invites stillness.
Cold weather chills our circulation and encourages introspection.
Aches and stiffness remind us to be gentle with ourselves.

Wintering is a time of intuition, when our true needs come into sharper focus and rest becomes an act of quiet strength, often underrated. I recently came across a passage by a Norwegian poet that resonated deeply with this idea:

"This is not a time for resolutions and new beginnings. Everything is still asleep—the trees, the animals, the season. This is a time for rest, for inward musings, for nourishment. Spring will come soon enough. Nature’s New Year is the Spring Equinox in March."

How freeing it is to embrace this wisdom—trusting that winter is a sacred pause, a time to nourish ourselves and gather strength for what’s ahead.

So, as we turn the pages of this new year, I invite you to join me in honoring this season of stillness. Let us rest, reflect, and allow ourselves the grace to simply be, trusting that the seeds of our intentions will be ready to plant when the earth warms and the light returns.

Spring will come soon enough. For now, let’s embrace the stillness of winter, nurture our roots, and prepare for the growth that lies ahead.

Yin and winter are associated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as the time of year when Yin energy is most dominant:

Yin energy
Yin is a cold, slow, and inward energy, while Yang is a light, fast, outward, and hot energy. In TCM, winter is associated with the water element, which is the most yin element.
Kidneys
The kidney organ is associated with winter in TCM, and the kidneys store the body's qi, or life force. When the kidneys are depleted, it can lead to imbalances and symptoms like dry skin, irritability, and insomnia.
Yin yoga
Yin yoga sequences for winter can emphasize forward folding poses that target the kidney and bladder meridians. Some examples of yin yoga poses include sitting butterfly, sphinx, child's pose, and savasana.

Here are some tips for nourishing your yin energy in winter:

Slow down: Take time to rest and reflect, and spend time with loved ones.
Practice yin yoga: Go inwards and reflect, reset and rest. (I teach YIN at Practice Yoga on Sundays at 11:45am, check schedule below)
Get enough sleep: Rest and sleep to recover your natural state of wellbeing.
Stay warm: Keep warm, especially around your lower back.
Ground yourself: Walk and get your feet on the earth.
Meditate: Let go of negative thoughts and fears.
Cook kidney-supporting foods: Drink water and herbal teas.
Journal: Keep a gratitude journal to support a positive mood.

As I sit with my own emotions—acknowledging the ones that feel joyful, the ones that stir fear, and even those that bring discomfort or shame. I find that, like trees growing strong roots in winter, the inner work we do now will prepare us for the seasons to come.

Katherine May writes, “If happiness is a skill, then sadness is, too. ( I will add anger, because that is the emotion I am feeling as of late) As adults, we often have to learn to hear the clarity of its call. That is wintering. It is the active acceptance of sadness, (anger, frustration, resentment, shame, guilt etc) It is the practice of allowing ourselves to feel it as a need. It is the courage to stare down the worst parts of our experience and to commit to healing them the best we can.'“

As we move through this winter season, I invite you to take time to feel—to rest, reflect, and nourish yourself. What parts of you are calling for stillness? What emotions are surfacing that invite healing? How can you embrace the art of wintering with grace?

Still, we can live with intention during this season, focusing on what nourishes us—mentally, physically, emotionally, and energetically. Nature reminds us that resting and reflecting can coexist with cultivating practices that sustain us, such as gratitude, counting our blessings, living with trust, and nurturing a grounded sense of faith.

Remember, spring will come soon enough. For now, let us honor the pause, the rest, and the quiet transformation unfolding within us. No matter the season we find ourselves in, the following affirmation is one that has evolved with time, growing as I grow and expand. Please use it whenever you need solace, comfort, support, or ease ♡

Happy Wintering

Reflection to Renewal🦋