This image came into my horizon today and I just had to share.  I have to be honest, winter is not my favourite season, so I have to keep reminding myself to embrace the beautiful things about winter. Learning to dance in the rain. Of course, this is a metaphor for finding the inner strength to embrace all of the elements of your life and finding not only acceptance for the circumstances you are in but joy.  Being thankful for all of life's colours.
This reminds me of mountain pose, Tadasana. When we connect to that inner strength and resilience, just like a mountain, we can weather all seasons. Even if the storms, wind and rain create some instability on the surface, we remain who we are at our very core. Unmoved, stable, connected.  We are often challenged by our own emotions and thoughts that arise when are going through a rough time. Thinking of these emotions as passing bad weather and not getting caught up or attaching to them helps us to remember that "this too shall pass".

So here we are, thrust into the middle of winter. How did that happen? Yesterday was the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere and today here in Melbourne we are reminded of how cold winter can be in these southern parts!  
So what does winter mean to you? It can be a lovely time of reconnecting with our families, over hot cups of tea or hot chocolate and maybe a DVD. Or snuggling up in a warm bed with a good book. Trying to snatch a sleep in or two.  I relish the opportunity, if it arises, to channel my inner cavewoman and stoke an open fire.  I also cherish the invigorating feeling of sharp, cold air in my lungs and on my cheeks and the kinship I feel with nature when I go for a bush walk. 
Winter is a time of self reflection, it gives us a chance to go inward and let go of busy-ness. For recuperating and preparing for the rest of the year. 

Give yourself permission to be slow. Allow yourself to retreat into your cave and take some time for you. 
Our winter yoga practice helps us connect to a place where we allow ourselves to be slow and let go of all the doing so we can be with our inner selves. It also helps create a little heat or inner fire, agni to burn up all the stale energy to make room for new possibilities. And personally, I feel particularly in this season my yoga practice stops me from going quietly mad! 

What do you love about winter?
Looking forward to seeing you on the mat.
Namaste, Kate x

It is important to be mindful of the information we are bringing to our awareness on a daily basis.  We are constantly swamped by media, much of it negative, however there is a wealth of positive information out there. The type of information we allow into your lives affects our outlook and as such try to fuel up on positive, healthy information.
This is just one simple way that we can transform our lives.
Let me know if there are any sites or books that you have read that enrich your life by commenting below.

The union of mind, body and spirit.  The spirit means different things to different people.  It is not bound to any religion. It is a sense of who we are at our core, our true nature. Who we have always been and always will be. Some call it the soul, some call it “the observer”.

The practice of Asana or physical practice, Pranayama or breath practice and meditation helps us to awaken this connection, this union of mind body and soul.

We become more aware of our bodies, our breath, our thoughts and this place of the observer.

Yoga provides you with the tools to maintain this connection and recognize what you need in any given moment. It empowers you to make better choices for your mind, body and spirit.

It is not just what happens on the mat, take it off the mat and into your daily life. Stay connected to your needs. Treat yourself with loving kindness and watch it spread to those around you.

Many students wonder about the meaning of the term Namaste.  Often used to close a class Namaste simply means "I honour you". It is used as a respectful greeting in India and used in yoga to acknowledge the place inside us where we are all one.

"I..... honour the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells. 
I honour the place in you which is of Love, of truth, of light and of peace.
 I honour that place in you which is the same as that place in me.
 We are one....."

This breathing technique, also known as alternate nostril breathing, helps to balance our central nervous system and is very centering and calming. It is great preparation for meditation.

• Sit in a comfortable position
• Extend your right arm, with your palm up, close your index and middle finger and then bring your hand up to your nose placing the thumb lightly without too much pressure over your right nostril and your ring finger lightly over the left nostril. You can hold your elbow for support.
• Exhale through both nostrils to start.
• Then cover right and slowly and evenly exhale through the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril, then cover left, exhale through the right.
• Inhale through the right, cover right, exhale left.
• Inhale left, cover left, exhale right.

When you get into the rhythm you can begin to count the length of your exhalation and inhalation, taking a moment to pause briefly at the top of your inhale and the end of your exhale. Complete a few rounds in your own time continuing to focus on the breath. Then allow your breath to return to its natural rhythm.

This technique is great to begin your day, even before you get out of bed.  The right side is more energizing and the left is calming.  So you could try breathing more on the left side when you need calming or on the right side if you need a pick me up. 

We live in a world that has forgotten how to breathe. You can weeks without food, days without water but only minutes without air.

Breath provides energy. Air is more than just oxygen. When we breathe we are providing life giving energy to every cell in the body.

By beginning to breathe more fully you can help your body to heal, increase the clarity of the mind, become more energetic and connect to the present moment.

When you practice unconscious shallow breathing patterns your nervous system goes into flight or fight mode. This makes it difficult to find peace within.  Your breath is directly related to the creation of balance in your body and mind.

When you slow down and deepen your breathing patterns, it triggers the relaxation response in your nervous system and helps you to slow your thought patterns.

5-10 minutes of breathing practice everyday will help you to learn to unwind and give you a better appreciation of just how perfect this moment is.

• Take time to be silent and be with your breath everyday

• Deep breathing will help to cleanse your body, increase your health, raise your energy and connect you to the spirit of life.
• When you consciously connect to this life giving energy you naturally feel a deeper sense of appreciation for the preciousness of life, which can increase your levels of happiness.