In the dark, dreich days of our Glasgow winter it’s a real struggle to get up and onto my yoga mat. At this time of year the idea of hibernating until Spring grows ever more appealing!

I want to head into winter feeling strong, well and calm despite the fact that my body suddenly feels a lot more creaky and the very last thing I feel like doing is getting up early.

So, what to do?

I wondered if Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, could offer anything to help make it easier for me to keep to my Mysore practice routine?

Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest holistic healing science. In Sanskrit Ayurveda means “the science of life.” It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit and its main goal is to promote good health rather than fight disease.

Can Ayurveda help me maintain my Morning Mysore practice?

MCY practitioner and yoga teacher Susan Adam, a passionate advocate of Ayurveda, explains:

“At the beginning of Autumn and Spring we transition and change. Autumn is Vata season which constitutes air and space and dry qualities. This is the time of year when Vata goes out of balance for many of us. We often don’t sleep well and can feel stress and anxiety, feel restless and the need to slow down a bit.
It feels time to start gathering in, stocking up on energy. However, Vata dosha is connected with movement in the body.”

Vata dosha is connected with movement in the body.

Even at this time of year, I always feel better after practice. Everything sits a little bit better with me and I seem to be able to sit a little bit better in the world. So this makes sense.

But what advice can Ayurveda offer to help me overcome my daily resistance to getting onto my mat?

Daily Practice

Susan says:

“Daily yoga practice, which keeps circulation going and provides vitality, is essential on these cold, dark days. Try slowing down your sun salutations, take more time in your standing postures imagining you’re drawing energy up from the feet, taking deeper breaths and making time for longer relaxation at the end of your practice are wonderful ways to gather your energy inwards.”

“Daily yoga practice, which keeps circulation going and provides vitality, is essential on these cold, dark days.”

When I’m struggling one of the things I do is ask myself WHY I practice. What is it that I’m actually practicing when I get on my mat?

And if it’s to check in with myself; to practice being more present, kind & focused; to be a part of something; to feel a connection with other people practicing alongside me & to the tradition of yoga itself; to begin to understand what it feels like to find balance & breath, it doesn’t matter so much how many postures I do and how amazing or not they feel, what matters is that I show up on my mat and do something.

Waking early

Waking up early particularly between 4am – 6am(!) is said to increase Sattva (mental clarity and positivity). Ayurvedic traditions have long believed this time of the day is spiritually charged and the best time to meditate and practice pranayama and asana.

And I can definitely say that getting up early (around 6am rather than 4am!!), when practice feels like a monumental effort, helps me be more focused and get through what I need to get done afterwards!

Addressing Creaky Joints

To address the creakiness and stiffness that seems to get worse at this time of year Susan suggests that I moisturise my skin with warming oils such as almond or sesame and use extra oil on my food to nourish my body inside and out. I’d not thought of something this simple and apparently obvious (like WD40 for the body!). So I’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes…

Warming Body & Soul

And finally she advises that for all of us warming foods and drinks combat the cold, drying weather – just as well I make fresh spiced chai with ginger and cinnamon for everyone after class on a Sunday!

“We’re here to help you keep to your Mysore practice routine too. Hopefully it’s reassuring to know that even as teachers we struggle to get on our mats!”

What’s a Mysore style practice?

Mysore style class is the most effective way of making progress in your yoga practice. We’re all different and what’s best for another student may not work for you. In this class, when we give you advice or instruction it’s completely tailored to your body and your practice. As you develop strength, stamina, flexibility and focus we’ll help you move onto more challenging postures safely.

You’ll find Rose Ann’s Morning Mysore style classes 6-8am Tuesday to Friday and 11am-1pm every Saturday. We ask for Morning Mysore class you’re familiar with Ashtanga style Surya Namaskar A & B and the standing sequence of postures.

I have Evening Mysore style classes Monday & Thursday 5.30-7.30pm. Complete beginners are invited to join us for Monday Evening class.

FULL TIMETABLE

Judi x

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Maintaining our Yoga Practice in Winter