You are a seasonal being.

Your body changes throughout the year, responding to different light levels, temperature and weather conditions. Maybe you have a favourite season? And maybe also a time of year that is difficult.

You are not alone. In your bones, you are still part of the cycle of Nature.

But the culture you live in doesn’t respect or allow for these seasonal changes, for the natural rhythms of your Being. Society expects productivity every day, with very little space to respond in a more embodied way of being. Intuition tells you to slow down when the days are short and the nights are long, but the world says speed up and consume as fast as you can.

Following the ebb and flow of the year

When we rest deeply and well over winter, we recoup our energy so we’re ready for when that first surge of springtime moves us into action again. Our urge to spring clean and get ready for the year ahead is perfectly mirrored in the actions of the creatures in the wild.

By Beltane, early May, energy levels are rising and our capacity unfurls like the woodland canopy. Our plans begin to blossom. Full summer is a time of play and expansion that culminates in the fulsome and drowsy days of August and the harvests of September. Now we get busy again, seeing what worked well and what didn’t. What needs another turn of the year to have chance to grow and mature?

At Samhain, we begin to gather in what we need for winter. Just like the animals, we need to store up our reserves – How will we spend the long dark nights? What do we want to nurture over winter so that next year is even better?

It’s not easy going against the culture of constant busyness and choosing, instead, a more nuanced, cyclical rhythm to your year. But from personal experience, I can tell you that it is definitely worth it!

The journey back to your seasonal self

Our yoga practice is part of this choice to live in tune with Nature’s ebb and flow, to fully respect our innate (but hidden) seasonality. I advocate strongly that we should be doing different yoga practices as the wheel of the year turns. What we love in spring and summer is not what our mind and body crave in the depths of winter.

To me, this is simply a sensible and caring way of going about life.

If you’d like to begin the journey back to your natural self, then a seasonal yoga practice is a great place to start.