The final weeks of winter are a sanctuary.
Spring will come. When it does, may we meet it not exhausted, but rooted.
As the light begins to rise earlier in the mornings and slowly stretches longer each evening many of us feel the need to rush forward into Spring. We are tired of the cold, yet perhaps not quite ready for spring’s outward bloom, if we’re honest with ourselves. These last couple of weeks of winter need not be rushed. They can be sacred.
In yogic philosophy, life moves in cycles - expansion and contraction, effort and surrender. Winter aligns with apas (water) and tamas (inertia, heaviness). Instead of resisting this slower rhythm, we can work with it.
These final winter weeks are ideal for:
Restorative and yin yoga ~ long held, supported shapes that nourish the nervous system
Pranayama practices ~ like nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) to balance and conserve energy
Journaling and reflection ~ asking what wants to be composted before spring
Earlier evenings and deeper rest
Rather than pushing productivity, we can ask:
Where can I soften? Where can I store energy instead of spending it?
In Ayurveda, this period often overlaps with late kapha season - grounding, dense, and slow. Gentle warmth (teas, slow movement, community connection) supports balance without depletion. Yoga reminds us that we are relational beings. The Sanskrit word seva (selfless service) teaches that care flows both ways. Conserving energy isn’t for our isolation; it’s intentional stewardship so we can show up sustainably for others.
Community care in late winter might look like:
Hosting a small, cozy potluck instead of a big gathering
Checking in on neighbours who may feel isolated
Sharing childcare or meal prep to reduce collective strain
Practicing collective rest - a group meditation, a slow Sunday circle
We can practice community care and resist burnout culture together.
Try this 20/30-minute sequence designed for nervous system maintenance and support:
Supported Child’s Pose (Balasana) 5 minutes
Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana) soften, no striving
Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) restore circulation, calm the mind
Nadi Shodhana 5 slow minutes
Savasana with weight or blanket stay longer than you think you should
Move slowly. Transition gently. Let stillness be the teacher.
Nature does not bloom year-round. Seeds need darkness.
If we overextend now socially, professionally, energetically, we enter spring already depleted. But if we treat these weeks as intentional incubation, we step into the next season resourced.
Ask yourself:
What habits am I ready to shed before spring?
What boundaries need strengthening?
Where can I practice softer ambition?
Spring will come. When it does, may we meet it not exhausted, but rooted.