Winter Wonder Yin

[Guest guest]

November/December 1999

 

Winter Wonder Yin

By Laurel Kallenbach

 

The final few months of the year often find us in a

frantic state of shopping, decorating, traveling, and

other high-energy activity. Yet instead of having fun,

we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or depressed.

The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

traditional Chinese medicine, is that the

action-packed schedules we keep at this time of year

fall out of sync with the earth's natural cycles.

 

" We naturally have less energy to burn during the

winter, " explains acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac.,

who teaches at Yo San University, a college of

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Santa Monica,

California. " So when we engage in behaviors more

appropriate for summer & #8212;staying up late and

dashing around town & #8212;it's no wonder that the

forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit

thin. "

 

Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in

terms of yin and yang, complementary forces that

govern the universe. Yin characteristics are cool,

wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas yang is the

opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and

conserving energy in the way a bear retains fat by

hibernating, or a farmer stores food for the cold

months ahead.

 

In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest,

darkest days indoors by the fire, eating warm,

slow-cooked, nourishing food and sharing stories with

their families. The incongruity between winter's

restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic

way many Americans spend their holidays can contribute

to seasonal affective disorder, depression,

exhaustion, and other manifestations of what is known

in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

 

" Winter solstice, just three or four days before

Christmas, is the darkest, most yin day of the year, "

says Cohen. " Instead of turning inward, we're

celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

artificiality creates stress, and many people dread

the season as a result. "

 

To stay balanced during winter, suggests Cohen,

conserve your yang energy. Restorative yoga, tai chi,

qigong, and walking are best suited for yin season, as

they safeguard your energy reserves. " Think of these

practices as an investment of your 'energy paycheck,' "

says Cohen. " Don't use up what little winter energy

you have with overactivity and added stress. "

 

Eating cooked, spicy yang foods provides another good

way to replenish energy. Prepare yang-strengthening

soups, slow-simmered stews, beans, roasted root

vegetables, and warm drinks. Add yang spices such as

garlic, ginger, black pepper, cloves, and basil to

increase the warming effect. Minimize your intake of

yin foods such as raw vegetables, salad greens, and

cold drinks.

 

If you find quiet, more modest ways to celebrate the

holidays, you'll stay in tune with the season and feel

less need to release tension by overeating or rampant

spending. You'll also have more time and energy to

connect with close friends and family. If you're out

of sync with the mall mobs with maxed-out credit

cards, chances are you'll find yourself in step with

the quiet, nurturing yin nature of winter.

 

© 2006. Yoga Journal, LLC.