February 2026

Honoring the Yin Season

Dear Yogis/Yoginis ,

We're in the heart of winter now—the yin season, when nature whispers to us: slow down, go inward, rest. I've been watching one of my cats lately, and she's the perfect teacher for this time of year. Without any struggle or self-judgment, she curls up more, purrs longer, eats with satisfaction, and yes, gets lovingly plump. Come summer, she'll naturally shed those extra pounds, moving with ease once again. She trusts her rhythms completely.

What if we allowed ourselves to follow our natural cycles with that same grace? To eat nourishing foods, rest without guilt, and trust that our own "summer" will come when the time is right.

This inward turn invites introspection—a chance to pause from our busyness and see what we might otherwise miss. Sometimes this deep dive into our most secret garden is beautiful. Sometimes it's difficult to face what we find there. The question becomes: how do we welcome introspection without slipping into isolation?

Looking Within—Together

Our practice gives us satya (truthfulness) and ahimsa (non-harming)—tools to be honest with ourselves without harsh judgment. And remember: non-judgment doesn't mean we don't have opinions. It means we hold them lightly, without rigidity.

This is where we need each other. Come to class not just to practice, but to connect. Stay after to share what you're feeling. You'll discover you're not alone.

The deepest practice? Allowing ourselves to feel our feelings fully—without clinging to the stories we've woven around them. Hard to do, I know. But this is called a practice for a reason. We don't have to "nail it."

The Tao Te Ching tells us: "All things carry yin and embrace yang. They reach harmony by blending with the vital breath" (Chapter 42). In our yang-dominated culture, we must consciously honor the yin.

And here's the paradox: this quiet introspection actually increases our radiance. Nourish your own unique light so no one and nothing can take it down. We can be like a lighthouse for others - relaxed and bright in the middle of the storm of this crazy world. Or like fireflies (yes, I know - no fireflies in winter!), fluttering our light here and there, brief sparks of brightness in the darkness.

Choose experiences that nurture you and challenge you kindly. Trust that you're not alone in this venture. We're walking this path together.

See you on the mat,

-Evelyne