Embrace the Quiet of Winter: Preparing the Ground for New Beginnings
- Leah Miles
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
While the calendar marks January 1st as the start of a new year, maybe you're feeling like you haven't quite caught up with yourself yet? Like the resolutions aren't coming as easily or you're not ready to commit to them fully? If you're feeling a bit worn out, sluggish, or not as energized as previous years, you're not alone. The Gregorain calendar we generally go by doesn't account for our natural rhythm or that of the earth, the sun and the moon. We’re in the stillness of winter, and nature is in a quiet, restorative phase right now. Winter isn’t in a rush, and neither should we be.
The Rhythm of Nature: Winter’s Pause
Many cultures celebrate the New Year later than January 1st. For example, the Chinese New Year falls between late January and February, and the Celtic tradition marks Imbolc around February 1st. These dates align more closely with the natural world’s rhythms.
During January, the earth is in its deepest winter phase. Plants rest, animals conserve energy, and the days are short and cold. This is a time of wintering—a natural pause where growth slows down. Our bodies and minds often mirror this stillness, which can feel like flatness or low motivation.
Trying to force big changes or ambitious goals during this time can clash with our natural state. Instead, embracing this period as a time for rest and reflection can lead to healthier, more sustainable progress.
In terms of the Wheel of the Year, we’re not quite at the time for fresh starts yet. In fact, the natural cycle of renewal won’t kick in until the Spring (Vernal) Equinox, when the days start to become longer than the nights and the Earth stirs with new life. Historically, our ancestors paid close attention to nature’s rhythms—observing the position of the sun, changes in daylight, and the natural world around them. The true time for planting seeds—both literal and metaphorical—comes much later, with the arrival of spring.
Right now, we’re in a time of rest and reflection. We recently marked the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and at that point, I had the privilege of sharing a quiet moment with others at Hive Beach as we joined in reverence and community (sangha). Together, we greeted the sunrise, practiced yoga, and honored the body’s need for stillness. It was a moment of connection, both to each other, ourselves and to nature.
But within this stillness, don't think that nothing is happening, far from it- in terms of tending our inner ground, this is when the composting is happening. This is your cue to embrace winter and rest without guilt.
As we move into 2026, you may have noticed something a little different this year. In numerology, 2025 was a 9 year—the end of a cycle. That energy naturally comes with a sense of completion, and we need a bit of time before the new beginnings of a 1 year (2026) can fully unfold.
So, if you’re still feeling a little “flat,” you're not alone. There's a good chance you've experienced chapters closing or concluding over the last months and year, and their imprint may linger for some time yet before they're ready to be processed and digested. This adds to the need to lay the ground in which this alchemic transformation can happen. Go gently with yourself right now.
Ayurveda: The Season of Vata
In Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga that focuses on balance and the rhythms of life, we’re in the Vata season—a time influenced by the elements of air and ether. We all have a combination of Vata, Kapha (earth/ water) and Pita (fire) in our constitution. In Vata season, this dosha (part of our constitution), is amplified and can become out of balance...
Vata season is a period of coolness, dryness, and movement. Vata governs the qualities of change and transition, but when it becomes imbalanced, it can lead to anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, digestive issues, and joint pain. It’s like dry leaves whirling around in the wind—things can easily start to feel scattered and ungrounded.
During this time, we benefit by focusing on grounding practices. Think of foods and routines that nourish and stabilise, helping us reconnect with a sense of structure. This may mean more rest, nourishing meals, spending plenty of time in nature and taking time to settle into the stillness, rather than rushing into action.
Nature’s New Year: A Time for Preparation
While the 1st of January marks the start of the calendar year, it’s not the moment when nature is truly ready for new growth. Instead, we mark the “natural” time for new beginnings at Imbolc, which falls around February 1st. This is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. It’s when the light truly begins to return and the potential for new beginnings becomes more palpable.
This is when we’ll begin planting seeds of intention and setting the tone for the months ahead. The time for real transformation and new chapters in our lives is still on the horizon—but this doesn’t mean we should rush.
Winter’s Wisdom: Embrace The Power of Pause
Winter provides an opportunity to pause. Right now is an important time to be held by the quiet. Enjoy the space for healing, introspection, and inner alignment. Lean into the stillness so deeply that your body can remember how it feels to be grounded and at ease. Stay focused inward just a little longer to realign with the rhythm of nature that pulses through you, forgotten through all life's distraction... because soon enough, Spring will arrive, bringing new energy, fresh perspectives, and the awakening of the version of yourself you're preparing to become.
A Special Retreat: Preparing for Nature’s New Year
If you’re feeling called to mark this moment of transition with intention, I invite you to join me for a special Day Retreat. On Sunday, February 1st (Imbolc), we’ll gather at the beautiful Othona venue, nestled among treetops with stunning views over the Jurassic Coast. Together, we’ll honour the natural rhythms of the year, reflect on and tend to what’s forming in our lives, and shed what no longer serves us to return to alignment.
The day will include gentle yoga, calming breathwork, guided meditation, and yoga nidra—practices that help you reconnect with your true nature, realign with your purpose, and set the stage for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead. These practices will support us in stepping intentionally into the best version ourselves, and guide us back on course if we discover we’re veering off. There'll be opportunity to consider what it is we want to create- it can be easy to coast along or ‘go with the flow’ which doesn’t always match our potential (our dharma- life’s purpose).
It will be a day for revitalising and preparing to unfurl into your true potential.
A nourishing seasonal lunch and refreshments will also be provided.
Details:
Date: Sunday, February 1st
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Othona, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
Cost:
£77 Early bird (extended until Jan 10th)
£88 for bookings made after January 10th
For Ongoing Support in a Cosy Indoor Setting: Yoga for Beginners
If you're looking for a regular way to bring structure and grounding into your life, I’m also offering a Yoga for Beginners course starting next Wednesday at Glow Collective Studio in Bridport. This six-week course will guide you through foundational yoga practices and bring balance to your body and mind, running until the February half-term. The classes are designed to help you create a steady foundation, both on and off the mat.
Time: Wednesdays 11am - 12:15pm
Cost: £72 for the full course (single sessions available for £15 each, subject to space)
For Ongoing Support with a Connection to the Natural Environment: Beach Yoga
If you're up for embracing the elements and experiencing the changes of the seasons whilst being held in the lap of Mother Earth, do join me for Beach Yoga.
We meet at West Bay and Hive Beach weekly for an immersion into nature and nourishing yoga practices that adapt to the seasons.
Time: Tuesdays @ Hive Beach 9.15-10.30am and Fridays @ West Bay 9-10.15am
Cost: £15/session (£16 if booked online)
All levels warmly welcomed.
These sessions are weather dependent so please do contact here to book in advance- full refunds are offered if the session is cancelled.
Alternatively, you can check out other offerings and book private sessions here
A New Year of Potential
Although the 1st January marks the “New Year,” keep in mind that your body and the Earth don't follow this calendar. So if you're feeling out of sorts, and mis-aligned with the expectations of this time of year, it might simply be that you're following the wrong calendar. By honouring the pause and aligning with nature’s rhythm, you're preparing the ground for a year of genuine transformation. Use this time to rest, reflect, and reconnect—and set yourself up for your best year yet.
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