10 things to love about yoga in the winter

(Originally published Winter 2008)

1. Not having to wake up quite so early to do your practice while the sun is rising.
2. More time to attend workshops on the weekends when it's not competing with yard work (understandably, gardening IS yoga for many of us...but not so much for me)
3. How well our twisting postures prepare us for shoveling.
   
4. A warm toasty studio or meditation spot on an icy cold day.
5. That yoga allows us to practice impermanence. That all sensations (in this case, cold ones) pass (unless you live on the North Pole).
6. Snow cancellations give us "extra" time that we can use to practice, read, meditate.
7. A meditation walking through a snow storm and listening to the sounds (a kind of buffered quiet I've never heard elsewhere)
8. Bundling up in blankets for savasana.
9. Heating up your body all on your own through a vigorous practice.
10. More opportunities to stay indoors and develop a home practice.
    

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Reviews of Yoga in America:

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I opened my asana toolkit and this is what came out today

Because of the snowy, icy weather here in Boston, I opted-out of my regular commute to work in Concord, NH and worked from home.  Working from home, is great for freedom from distractions.  But freedom from distractions results in my sitting fixated in one position at the computer.  Sometimes in very un-posture-friendly-positions.

So around 5 pm, I took a break.  I knew if I lay down on my yoga mat, I'd fall asleep...and unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of nap-time right now.  So I stood on the floor (didn't even open my mat) and didn't move my feet the whole time, but felt quite invigorated after just a few minutes of movement.  What I did was nothing crazy, but I  I wanted to share it with you because it felt good for me.  So I recorded it after I finished my practice (hmmmm, can you say procrastination?)   The recording is 9 minutes long and is a standing vinyasa...meaning you keep flowing, but stand in one place the whole time.

My short (9 minute) standing vinyasa:  DOWNLOAD MP3

If you're unfamiliar with the postures I mention in the sequence, here are some nice photos of the variations I used:

1. ragdoll
   
2. tadasana 
3. half-moon (Bikram style) 
4. standing backbend
5. squat (utkatasana).