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Allowing winter

Allowing winter

Hello there,

We've just entered 大雪節氣 (Big Snow solar term) in the Northern Hemisphere, heralding the arrival of deep winter. Here in Singapore, I feel the temperature drop during late-night thunderstorms and early-morning breezes. Winter traditionally invites us to take longer breaks and receive restoration after a year of giving. This winter, the word that emerged for me is to allow.

How have you experienced the last week or so? My body sank into languor and fatigue at November's end. I craved naps all day, had a nagging unexplained ear pain, and found little energy to engage. I didn't resist winter's nudge — I allowed myself to winter during my alone time. In a heart-to-heart with my partner days later, we discovered we both felt down and disoriented after a month of living together ended just as the seasons shifted. We only fully accepted these feelings when we stopped distracting ourselves with work and errands. For my partner, allowing can be deeply uncomfortable, and he reflected that this is likely why many of us stay busy — to avoid fully feeling this discomfort.

If we practice this allowing, we might expand our capacity to hold uncomfortable emotions a little more, letting our bodies digest these emotions and experiences.

Maybe,

  • Allow yourself to let go of this winter's unnecessary — overindulgence, socialising, worrying, arguments, or over-efforting.
  • Permit yourself to set down the burdens your heart has carried throughout 2024.
  • Allow yourself to make the decision you've been hesitating on.
  • Allow warmth to reach your extremities: fingers, toes, and the crown of the head.
  • Allow the tears to come.

Winter's note to us: care for your kidneys and extremities

Winter can weaken our extremities, kidneys, and bladder, making us more susceptible to colds, fatigue, restless sleep, lower back discomfort, and even ear issues. For many of us living in wet, wet Singapore, dampness may compound our colds and exacerbate kidney-related issues. I've felt some of these effects almost immediately upon my return. (!)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys, central to water metabolism, store our vitality ( 精氣 / jing) and are deeply connected to the emotion of fear. If you have been working with prolonged stress or fear or felt them across your relationships this year, your kidneys may be feeling overworked now. Our kidneys may also hold memories of unprocessed old fears, and this feeling of depletion may be more pronounced during winter.

Winter is the season to nourish this vital energy. Allow winter, allow yourself to replenish what has been spent.

Seasonal Practices

Simplifying can be one way to begin. I've always found simplifying to be an interesting phenomenon. No matter how much we simplify, we can always find room for just a little more. It feels endless! Like our bodies, our lives accumulate in the tiny moments when we are not looking; hence, we can always simplify. There are many ways to simplify December, such as our meet-up schedules, celebratory meals, physical space, etc. Other than simplifying, feel free to try the practices below, whether you're clearing leave or winding down after a busy year:

  • Slow, slow, and slower: Take your time while strolling, preparing, and eating your meals. Disconnect from devices earlier before bed.
  • Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari):
    • Sit comfortably, lower your gaze towards the ground or close your eyes, and soften your face.
    • Lightly press your thumbs to your ear cartilage to block external sounds, and your lips touch softly.
    • Inhale through your nose and hum your exhale naturally. There is no need to extend your exhale purposely.
    • Repeat for 5–10 breaths, noticing any vibrations or sensations in your body. If it feels comfortable, feel free to repeat up to 5 minutes.
  • Facial and head massage:
    • Gently massage your earlobes, pulling the ears outwards slowly if that feels comfortable, stretch the jaw by opening your mouth as wide as you like, squeezing your cheeks in different directions, and massage your head by either tapping with fingertips or stroking in a downward motion from the crown of your head to the base of your skull with your fingers.
    • Spend a few minutes exploring this self-massage, and pause when you complete it. Become aware of the warmth that may radiate in the face, head, and sometimes even your breath and upper torso.
    • The humming breath and the massages can be a part of your slow-down ritual in the morning or at night. These practices allow our nervous system to recalibrate back to balance and safety. As our nervous system resettles, our kidneys can begin to heal too in that felt safety.

As we simplify, cleansing happens. Space is created to receive nourishment.

Nourishment is looking like this for me now. A piping hot bowl of miso fish soup I ate on the streets of Tainan City, Taiwan, left me speechless. I've been re-creating it for myself this winter, this variation with mushrooms and clams for an even richer seafood flavour!

What did I just sign up for?

If this is the first time you receive this newsletter and have no idea what's happening, that's okay! You may have previously purchased a book from me, practised with me or indicated an interest in updates for Expand into the Ordinary, a publication weaved with regular seasonal Yoga workshops and retreats. In these newsletters, I'll share insights I'm learning from traditional Chinese frameworks and/or yogic philosophy as they relate to each season, along with practices to help you connect with Nature and yourself. I hope that your interest in exploring ancient wisdom will spark in unique ways for you; whether in Chinese medicine, yoga, or other traditions, ancient wisdom has so much to teach us about our interconnectedness with Nature. Consider this our quiet rebellion — a return to ancient wisdom while the world races toward technological advancement. 

There are two ways to participate in the publication. As a free subscriber, you'll continue to receive these seasonal newsletters. If you use Gmail, please look out for these newsletters, as they may appear in your promotions tab. You can move them to your primary inbox if you'd like.

There's also a paid membership that offers recordings, including Yoga Nidra and other seasonal practices you can access anytime, anywhere. Up to 3-4 recordings and/or written content will be uploaded every month to guide you in your own expansion into the ordinary. As this is something new for all of us, I'd like to gift you one month of complimentary access to the paid membership. Take this time to observe if the recordings and content are helpful for you.

If you feel these newsletters are no longer aligned with what you want to receive, feel free to unsubscribe too.

Upcoming events

Here's a snippet of what's coming up:

I wish you a nourishing winter.

Yokes x