Revisitng my concepts of COLD PRANA & BLUE SEASON.
We of the hearty northern climbs must embrace and hopefully learn to love Winter and our glorious Cold Culture. Today’s bluster and snow is a perfect example! Within the body of Winter 2025, our retreat offers you a weeklong opportunity to immerse yourself in warmth, humidity, sunshine, and all the benefits of a luscious, vibrant, Caribbean adventure.
Most of us are familiar with the benefits of thermaculture - sauna, cold immersion, perhaps even dipping in Lake Superior during the winter months.
The benefits include reduction of inflammation, improved circulation, nervous system balancing, mental clarity, metabolic support, etc.
Consider this retreat a macro extension of thermaculture. We are currently immersed in the heart of winter, and have an opportunity to warm up, lighten up, brighten up, and then a return home to embrace the rest of winter in all its glory. The contrast; in climate, temperature, culture, and light - may make the benefits of each shine brighter, be embodied more deeply, we might see ourselves in greater relief - we might find more gratitude in each - for their benefits and beauty.
I love winter. The key to unlocking that has been movement. I am passionate about the list of Winter-loving things I have integrated.
Running, hiking, cold plunge, sauna, embracing the dark for more introspection and inward focus. Outdoor meditation and breathwork. (Also, I keep trying to get into cross-country skiing, for years now!)
Winter has been a time to write, make art / theatre, and catch up on reading.
Getting Hygge-with it, in general, I have learned to slow down and enjoy all facets of Winter. I mean some people pay to Cryofreeze their faces and we get it for FREE!!
Winter has historically also been when I deepen my yoga practice, enjoy trainings, and ramp up taking class myself … exploring all the ways to perceive what winter has to offer … instead of wishing it away. So grateful to live in such a beautiful, vibrant, place where Winter IS Culture. While being careful to not pass judgement on my longing for the return of the light and rejoicing when the sun finally sets AFTER 4:30 pm.
All of this is vital and necessary - to reset, renew, restore, sans all the “New Year, New Me” B.S. This is a practice not a start date on a fresh planner. (Though no shade to my planner-people.)
Winter is deeply restoring - body and soul. This idea also helps reframe travel, instead of go go go (which is my way), slowing down. Investigating how I might absorb the experiences and learning presented, like I do with a steamy sauna on a strikingly clear winter night. Or, breathing through a cold plunge in Lake Superior. Present. Attuned. Grateful.
So excited to grow and expand these concepts with this retreat, and warm up - along with YOU. Not to escape from Winter, but to return to Winter charged and changed.
Maybe you find value in thermaculture and your Wintering practices. I would love to hear how YOU love your Winter, and if there might be something to discover by expanding the concept of thermaculture with our yoga retreat to Honduras.
Just some musings on why you might find motivation to ROAM with us this Winter! In the meantime happy BLUE SEASON!
Love,
Kate (& Miriam) XOXO
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