5 Great Things About Yoga in Winter

When we think of yoga, we can often conjure up images of sun salutations with a beachy backdrop or tree pose in a tropical location, but that doesn’t mean that yoga isn’t just as beneficial in the colder months or that your practice should take a back seat in winter.

Say Goodbye to Winter Blues

Yoga makes us feel good. So when the days are shorter and the mornings are darker it can be a solution if we feel a little down in the dumps. If you tend to suffer from the winter blues, yoga is a great way to brush off any seasonal negativity and boost your mood. Downward Dog and Cobra are in particular both great poses to help blow away the cobwebs and elevate your mindset.

Alleviate Aches and Pains

In the colder months, it’s natural to experience stiff joints or a few aches and pains here and there, especially if you suffer from joint issues, they tend to flare up in the winter. As we know, yoga is exceptionally beneficial for joints and regular practice is a superb way to stay supple throughout this season.

Boost Your Immune System

Yoga is a natural stress buster and less stress means less stress hormones flowing through your body. Hormones such as cortisol can compromise the immune system but you can counteract this with yoga. Even one session per week can really help you to manage stress and in turn, give your immune system a much-needed boost.

Keep Fit

On those rainy days and freezing mornings, the last thing you want to do is venture out to the gym but you don’t have to let the seasons dictate your fitness progress. Create a place that attracts you on cold mornings and entices you to complete a yoga session. This could be a cosy corner where you can roll out your yoga mat surrounded by candles and a warm blanket to throw over you during Savasana.

Boost Your Circulation

In colder temperatures, our body draws blood towards the internal organs and away from extremities such as fingers and toes. If you suffer from poor circulation in winter, yoga is the perfect way to get your blood flowing around the body and you can also complete your relaxing yoga session with a nice cup of herbal tea. Ginger tea is known for its health properties but especially for improving circulation over time.

Will you be integrating regular yoga sessions into your winter rituals?