The holidays this year provided my family with a peaceful opportunity to recharge and prepare for the new year ahead. We ended up staying home, taking the time to read, spend time together, and rest—not our original plan, but it’s a gift how things worked out.

The dormancy of winter is an important reminder of the need we all have to rest—to turn inwards and become still at our centers. This can be challenging, but tuning in to what is happening on the inside, letting stillness take over, and allowing ourselves to listen is how we cultivate and work toward well-being. If we remain open, this can be a time when we are able to make the small adjustments we need to find our way back to good health and balance in our lives. This deep listening—or surrendering—is known as Ishvara Pranidhana, one of the Niyamas, or Character Building Observances in Patanjali’s Yoga System. It serves as an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves on both physical and spiritual levels.

Yoga offers us this pathway to connect and trust as we drop into our bodies to practice. Restorative yoga can be especially helpful in accessing this state of inner peace. At The Yoga Garden, we offer many restorative classes, which afford you opportunities to slow down and give yourself permission to listen to your body. Coming together in an environment where this is our joint mission feels comfortable and safe. We invite you to join us on the path towards optimal living and well-being, and we look forward to welcoming you, old friends and new, in the year to come.