Winter, Warmth and Yoga

It's chilly as can be here in Madison this week with the highs this weekend promising to be just above zero. Yikes. It can be tough to practice yoga with a cold body - so here are a few thoughts on making your home practice successful (and safe) when it's chilly.

I'm a big fan of a hot bath or shower before I practice in the winter. Or, if it's an option, practice in front of the fireplace. A small heater can be extremely nice - making your yoga space warmer and more inviting. Dress in layers and remove layers as you need. Keep a wool shawl or blanket and socks handy for your final resting pose. And go slowly at first - it's easy to hurt yourself when your body is not warm enough and you move into a pose too deeply. Which is good advice no matter what the temp :-)