Examining the season through the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is dominantly yin in nature. Yin is the passive property of the universe. It’s characteristics are cold, dark, damp, slow, and inactive. Winter is the balance of the very active summer energy, yang.
Yin corresponds with the water element which is associated with our kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands. The kidneys are our body’s storehouse of vital energy. Rest is essential for revitalizing kidney health, this is one of the reasons some animals hibernate in winter.
What happens in nature echoes within us, we can learn to embrace the passive nature of winter. We can consciously slow down giving ourselves permission to align with the season. We can cultivate practices like yoga and mediation that draw our awareness inward and allow us the opportunity for rest.
