T
he winter months have a reputation for being dark, cold
and dreary. In theory, all these long evenings in might
mean more time for yoga. In reality, sometimes, all we
really want to do is crawl under a blanket and hibernate.
The good news is you can indulge this need for warmth
and cosiness. All you need to do is introduce a little hygge into
your practice.
Say what?! Hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) is basically the Danish
word for wellbeing. It may be a little word but it has very big ideas.
Hygge is the buzzword of the season and is all about cherishing
yourself and others, making the time and space to be cosy and
comfortable, enjoying the simplest of pleasures whether it is a
steaming cup of tea or the feel of your soft slippers, embracing the
here and now. Hygge is certainly a very appealing concept, but it
is also one that I think sits very naturally with yoga. Here are a few
ideas of how to incorporate a little bit of it into your life and practice
this winter.Live and practice in the moment
Hygge is about living in and enjoying the present moment, something
that is directly transferable to yoga. When we practice asana, we focus
on the breath, the movements of the body and we aim to quieten
the mind. For many, a yoga practice is a chance to set aside the
noise and bustle of everyday life and come back to the body in that
particular moment. Try and make your next practice all about the
present. Observe how you are feeling and breathing right now and
move accordingly.Create a special space
I find that a change of scene can really alter and inspire my yoga
practice. Why not take advantage of the dark evenings and cosy-up
your yoga space. Turn the lights low, light a candle and burn some
beautiful incense – I love the smoky warmth of palo santo. Find some
super soft blankets to wrap around yourself in Savasana or practice
supine poses like Happy Baby whilst lying on a sheepskin. Maybe even
practice in your pyjamas one night. Pure hygge in action.om mind
Practice with friends and family
Find your nearest and dearest – children, friends, pets – and
practice yoga together. Hygge is about sharing simple pleasures
with the people you care about. Enjoy practicing with your baby
lying on a blanket next to you or let your toddler make a bridge out
of your Downward Dog. Share the practice, share the love!Spoil your fellow yogis
One of the things I love most about yoga is the sense of
community or Sangha (to use the Sanskrit word) it offers. And
this idea is also a big part of how to feel hygge. To show your
appreciation for your fellow yogis, why not bring a flask of spicy
masala chai tea to pass around after class. Or bake something
healthy and delicious to share. You might find out more about
fellow students in ten minutes than you have done in a year of
practicing together.Take pleasure in your practice
This may sound a bit obvious but it is so easy for both students
and teachers to get distracted by feelings of competitiveness or
desire for progress. Come back to what made you love yoga in the
first place and be content with your practice, whatever it is. Be kind
to yourself and don’t strive for improvement.Spread the yoga love
One of the things that brings me back to my mat time and time
again is that I know I always feel better post practice and I feel
like I am nicer and kinder to myself and those around me. I am
sure this is a feeling that resonates with lots of yogis. If everyone
who practiced yoga could take a little bit of this inner warmth and
spread it in the wider world, that could only be a good thing and
we’d all feel lovely and hygge..Victoria Maw is a yoga teacher based in South East London
(victoriamawyoga.com)Danish for comfort, wellbeing and all things nice, Hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’)
is the buzzword of the season. Here’s how you can incorporate all those
snuggly, cosy moments into your yoga practice. By Victoria Maw
HYGGE + YOG