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Yoga philosophy teaches us to be situationally non-judgmental and circumstantially non-attached; however, I can say without hesitation, “I profoundly hate cold weather.”   Although I do indeed, diligently cultivate Santosha in my life, the aversion to feeling the discomfort of cold is an obstacle I have yet to overcome.
My phenomenon is not singular.  A wide spectrum of negative experiences afflicts the general population during the winter months:  depression, fatigue, weight gain, irritability or even Seasonal Affective Disorder.  The good news is, yoga can help.  Not only by applying the Santosha Niyama to your lifestyle, but also by practicing specific yoga principles, you can combat those winter blues.
In the winter, we need to build heat and fight fatigue in order to maintain balance and avoid seasonal depression.  A few minutes of fast paced yoga poses will build heat.  Follow those with restorative poses which will recharge your energy stores.  The practice of specific breathing exercises and the inclusion of certain warming spices will also assist with keeping your internal fires burning.
You can complete the following yoga routine in about 30 minutes.  Practice daily until the weather warms.
•	Vinyasa:  Sun Salutations - practice a few rounds quickly and repeatedly
•	Inversions:  Shouderstand – hold for 3 to 5 minutes 
•	Backbends:  Bow – hold 3 to 5 minutes
•	Relaxation:  Corpse – practice for 10 to 15 minutes
•	Breath of Fire: Advanced breathing -  Only 3 minutes for beginners
In addition to your daily yoga practice, introduce and use freely the following spices to aid your digestion, stay hydrated and keep your metabolism optimal.
•	Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, black/red pepper, cloves
•	Water:  Don’t stop drinking your water – herbal teas daily
Because yoga is a journey, and my own personal path constantly seeks growth and experiences, I constantly make concerted efforts to explore and expound my practice.  I try to focus on obvious areas of need, “I hate cold weather”.  
So, my latest cultivating endeavor was a Hot Yoga class.  Not only would this class be a learning opportunity, I thought it would also help to combat my own “winter blues”, which include fatigue, lethargy, constant coldness and a generally unmotivated spirit.
Donned in many layers, I arrived to be greeted by an odiferous room full of scantily clad men and women, (lots of bikinis and spandex).  Even after practicing yoga for over 15 years, I was quite nervous, after viewing the standard postures on-line, to which some I still held aversions.
About 5 or 10 minutes into the 90 minute class, my muscles were screaming, but in a good way.  One of the goals of Hot Yoga is to push past your usual limits, so my body was bending further than it ever had.
Throughout the class, various feelings presented themselves, both physical and mental.  Nausea, dizziness, elation and vigor all ebbed and flowed in tidal waves.  Yes, I lost my balance quite a bit, and felt like I was going to keel over on more than one occasion, but those challenges were coupled with defying power and unity.,
By the end of the class, in Savasana, I felt utterly depleted, yet sated.  Luckily, the instructor provided an extended Savasana for those of us who were relegated to jelly.  Getting out the door was a trial, yet as I finally entered the cold chill of night, again donned in all my layers, I was brandished with new and greater levels of energy and contentment.  
So, what can I say?  I’m hooked.  Hot Yoga is challenging, and not for the timid.  But every yoga enthusiast should try it at least once.  Every step along your journey may enlighten you, either by showing you a new direction, or by guiding you away from those things which do not complement your nature.  And on the way, you may find one or two things that will keep you WARM.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Hot Yoga for Cold Days