Foundation & Flow: Wolf Moon Shines on Winter Wellness
"And just like the moon, you shall go through phases of light, of dark, and everything in between. And though you may not always appear with the same brightness, you are always, always whole." – Unknown
First Full Moon morning dear friends,
With the Wolf Moon arriving tonight, glowing in the winter sky, I greeted this morning with some resistance—the warmth of my bed pulling me back. It took a quiet commitment to my wellness to rise, to shift from inertia to motion. Tired eyes, sluggish limbs, and breath to nourish, I came to my morning commitment appreciating my teacher’s support. I am reminded again and again: getting there is often the hardest part, but arriving—however imperfectly—is always worth it.
I trust you have felt this too? That subtle struggle that can come from beginning again? Yoga is a tool for connecting within. These practices remind me that it isn’t always about radiance or exhilaration. Your commitment to the process—showing up, offering presence no matter your state, surrendering to what arises, and trusting the practices to support you and your prana, your life force as you unfold—is enough.
Explore morning practice together.
Outside, dense fog cloaks the forest. It glows in tones of white and gray, offering a cool, translucent light. Quiet. Reflective. In the lens of the gunas—the qualities of nature—this feels sattvic: clear, luminous, an evenness. The fog’s impermanence mirrors life’s rhythms. Its presence invites me to allow, to soften resistance, to witness beauty in the fleeting moments.
Winter’s Wisdom: Rooted in Nature, Aligned with the Gunas
This week, I’m embodying and offering yoga practices to align with the season—winter’s inward call, the Wolf Moon’s emotional flow, and the gunas:
- Tamas: stability, rest, nurturance.
- Rajas: energy, action, potential.
- Sattva: clarity, harmony, balance.
These qualities align with the nervous system, offering a lens to better understand both ourselves and the natural world. By observing how we shift between these states—whether peaking or dipping outside our capacity, feeling overwhelmed, or sinking into lethargy—we can bring a sense of objectivity to our experience. A perspective to supporting less dwelling, ruminating or dulling that saps our energy. Through intentional practices and mindful presence, we create space for deeper connection and greater awareness.
Join me for a Mellow Monday studio class or explore yoga therapy to deepen.
The Wolf Moon in Cancer calls forth our emotional waters, while Capricorn’s energy reminds us to build systems and foundations. Together, they invite us to discern, adapt, and root ourselves in practices that nourish and sustain. Like the trees in winter, bare yet essential, we are still connected, still growing beneath the surface.
"How do we respond to the tide of experience that sweeps into our ordinary lives? Do we respond to the unknown by being absent or present? Do we circumvent the truth or move through the truth?" – Mark Nepo
Winter’s Teachings: Stillness and Growth
In winter, the trees may seem barren, offering little at first glance. Yet their branches are vital—pathways for birds, shelters for nests, and symbols of resilience. Even in apparent dormancy, they adapt, withstand, and hold space for life.
"Even when branches have entered a dormant state, devoid of leaves in winter, they are not just empty spaces. They are still connected to something more, beautiful and purposeful in their way, even before there is new growth." – Morgan Harper Nichols
Winter reminds us to prepare the soil, to tend to what’s unseen, to trust the quiet work of deepening roots. It is a season of foundation, welcoming flow—where stability meets creativity, and the luminous moments of presence guide us back to ourselves.
The Invitation: Your Winter Wellness
As the first full moon of 2025 rises tonight, let the emotional waters of Cancer guide you to flow. Take time to nourish your inner soil, meeting the day’s commitments with steady presence. Pause, play, and let yourself be nourished. Connect deeply—not only to the rhythms of the natural world but also to what matters most within you.
This week’s practices focus on Foundation & Flow—where tamas meets rajas, creating the conditions for sattva to emerge, returning us again and again to that ever-present wholeness. To see the beauty in the fog, to honor the lessons within the cycles, and to find stillness amidst movement. With clarity, creative wisdom with presence can be allowed to shine. This is connecting deeply.
"Through our unblocked, sincere response to life, we can tune our inner person with the great mysteries… In a daily way, through listening and feeling, we can tune the heart in order to express wisdom." – Mark Nepo
Keep committing to your wellness. Choose intentionally where to place your energy and attention. Embrace the “yes, and” of life—winters sun & moon, light and shadow as integral to your experience.
May you shine as you are—fluid, steady, and ever whole.
Here with you in practice,
In love & light.
-Maya
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