Nurturing your will, wisdom and determination
A time for self-reflection and restoration
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As I write this, we’re just a couple of weeks away from the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere, which marks the start of astronomical winter. However, in the Chinese lunar calendar, winter has already begun (in early November). Given the recent cold snap we’ve been experiencing here – with temperatures below the seasonal average according to weather experts – it certainly feels like winter right now.
Since March, when this Substack began I’ve written about the organs associated with Spring, Summer, Late Summer and Autumn respectively and their energetic qualities in Chinese medicine. Also, as part of The Reset series I’ve been sharing my yin yoga practices for each season.
The season of Water
Winter is the season of the Water element, the Kidneys (yin organ) and the Urinary Bladder (yang organ).
Known as the ‘Root of Life’ the kidneys are located at the back of the body just below the lower ribs. The kidneys are also where our ‘Jing’ or Essential Essence – which we inherit from our parents – resides. Jing is considered to be the substance that comprises all life, governing our growth, maturation, reproduction and decline.
Working in tandem with the kidneys in the processing and elimination of liquids is the urinary bladder. Located in the pelvis and storing urine produced in the kidneys, in Chinese medicine the Urinary Bladder is referred to as a reservoir storing the water from the body.
When Kidney and Urinary Bladder Qi are imbalanced some of the ways it can appear include anxiety, worry, fatigue, bloating, depression, and finding it challenging to deal with new situations. The location of the kidneys also means that Kidney Qi stagnation can also show up as and be mistaken for lower back problems.
When we tend to the Kidney and Urinary Bladder channels, we can feel calmer, more relaxed and more courageous with a greater sense of stability and emotional balance, as well as greater willpower to accomplish our goals and overcome obstacles. Speaking of willpower…
Zhi resides in the Kidneys
Zhi – one of the five spirits in Chinese medicine - is the spirit of the Kidneys and Water. (In Autumn, I touched on the spirit of Metal here.)
Zhi represents your will (or willpower), wisdom, purpose, and the determination required to fulfil your destiny or heart’s desire.
Consequently, the Kidneys are negatively impacted if Zhi is disturbed – this can look like feelings of fatigue and depletion.
Fear and the Kidneys
The primary emotion of the Kidneys, Water element and Urinary Bladder is fear.
Though fear can be an important emotion to keep us safe and mobilise us into necessary action, when out of balance just a few of the ways fear might manifest include paranoia, lack of empathy and feeling stuck.
When Kidney Qi is not overwhelmed with fear, the path is opened to feelings of contentment and ease.
During winter it may feel as though things are at their end, but experience has shown us that there is cultivation happening in the darkness and stillness of the season, the results of which will emerge when the time is right.
This winter, will you give yourself the gift of space for rest and self-reflection and be willing to release fear in order to nurture the seeds of what you wish to see grow in the Spring?
Here are a few tips for supporting Kidney Qi during Winter:
KEEP YOUR KIDNEY SPACE WARM:
I personally take care to keep the Kidney space (lower back area) warm during the winter season by wrapping up well. A bit like the advice to keep your neck warm when it’s cold, this is something that was passed down to me by my mother that I continue to practice.
Related to this, you can also support Kidney Qi by using your palms and fists to massage and tap your kidneys, using circular motions for 1-5 minutes. My favourite time to do this is between 5 and 7pm as these are the hours that correspond to the Kidneys. However, this can be done at any time of the day.
GIVE YOURSELF AN EAR MASSAGE:
Just as it is advisable to keep the Kidney space warm, the ears are also deserving of some extra and care and attention in the cold weather.
In Chinese medicine the ears are the sensory organ(s) connected to the Kidneys. It’s said that stimulating the ears by massaging, pinching and flicking them can be beneficial to kidney and overall health. Try massaging the ears for about 5 minutes daily during the daylight hours.
An easy way to make this a part of your daily routine is to doing the following practice shortly after waking up, either lying down or sitting up. (NB - Avoid this practice if you are pregnant):
Rub your palms together to warm your hands then place your palms over each ear. Take several deep, steady breaths here.
Gently rub the front and back of each ear with your warm hands.
Using your forefingers and thumbs, massage your ear lobes and gradually continue your massage up the outside and top of each ear. Repeat this 4-5 times.
To complete your practice, use your forefingers and thumbs to pinch the top of each ear or gently flick the ears up to 5 times.
BUTTERFLY POSE:
In this short video I show you Butterfly Pose. This is a little bit like the ‘downward facing dog’ of yin yoga in its foundational nature.
How to:
Sit on the ground with your back straight and your legs extended. You can sit on a cushion or folded blanket here if this feels more comfortable for your lower back.
Place the soles of your feet together and allow your knees to fall out to either side so that your legs are in a diamond shape.
Bring your upper body forward, allowing your back to round. Come as far forward as your body will comfortably allow without forcing or straining.
If you would like to add some support:
You may wish to do Butterfly with a chair seat in front of you to support your forehead. Alternatively, stack some cushions or pillows in front of you to rest your forehead on. (Yoga bricks or a bolster work well for this too if you have them).
Place a cushion or rolled up blanket under each thigh if your hips feel particularly tight.
Aim to be here for 3-5 minutes. To exit your Butterfly Pose, on an inhale gently uncurl back up to sitting.
Introspective practices such as yoga, meditation and journaling can help to support the Water element, while winter invites us to conserve our energy with replenishing rest. Here’s where you can join me for some of these practices in-person and online:
ONLINE:
Mindwalk Yoga - Join me for a livestream Restorative Yoga class on Tuesday 19th December 8-9pm GMT. Drop-in tickets are available from £5-15 here. If you’re already a Mindwalk Yoga member you can join this class as part of your monthly subscription.
EkhartYoga - In my latest class, Soothing Savasana, I invite you to bring some physical rest into your day and take you through a guided relaxation. Here’s a tiny snippet:
The Reset and A Peaceful Pause here on Substack – a new yin / restorative practice and guided meditation each month. Winter Yin class coming soon.
IN-PERSON:
Hatha Flow - “This class is really good for anxious bodies.” Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am at Yoga Point in Brixton.
Rest + Restore - “My mind needed it. My body definitely needed it.” On the second Friday of each month at Embody Wellness in Vauxhall. If you’re reading this before 8th December you still have time to join me for the last one of 2023. Or join me for the next one on Friday 9th February 2024 here.
Over to you - a couple of things you might like to journal on:
The lessons I have learned this year are…
What does my future self want me to nurture now?
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Thank you Paula for your gifts of writing. 💗 Very insightful piece on kidneys. Mine needed some TLC yesterday, I sat with a hot water bottle lodged in my lower back whilst working at my desk. Now I know why it felt so nourishing! 😊