Seasonal alignment: Tuning into your body’s wisdom from winter to spring

I’m so grateful to have Benny in my life.

Watching him has taught me more about being human than I expected.

On one particularly cold and dreary morning, instead of his usual post-breakfast vigil — scanning my every move, one eye on my walking shoes — he burrowed deeper into the blankets and refused to even peek out.

Something deep in me also wanted to hunker down and wait for fair weather. But, of course, I went to work instead.

That’s when it really hit me: my body is an animal.

And this winter, I had an undeniable lesson in that. 

Break to Substack?

I did something I’d never done before: a detox diet in the dead of winter. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say no sweeteners, no dairy, no grains, and ten servings of vegetables a day caused quite a … ahem … movement.

Did I lose any weight? Not an ounce.

Now, that’s not supposed to be the point. But dang, if I’m going to suffer like that, I want to feel truly successful!

I finally had to face it. My body is an animal. A mammal, at that. And mammals don’t shed weight in winter. Not until Spring, anyway.

Also, I joke that when the sun goes down, I go down with it. But ask my husband, the night owl, because it’s not really a joke. After an early winter dinner, I can barely keep my eyes open until 9.

There are people who love winter — who strap on skis and head outside all day. They clearly have different DNA. I’m so glad they love it, or we wouldn’t have the Winter Olympics. That would be a shame.

But me? Give me long sunny days, and I’ll thrive.

The world can pull us in many directions, and it’s easy to override what our bodies are quietly, or not so quietly, asking for. These days, more than ever, it matters to pause and listen. Your body already knows what it needs. It’s speaking to you in a language older than words.  

Here’s a 3-minute Tiny but Mighty Practice to help you tune into the ancient language of your body: 

• Step outside and let yourself settle. Notice the world around you – sky, trees, earth. Take three slow breaths and notice that you, too, are part of that. 

• Feel your feet on the earth and the breeze on your skin. Sense into the ancient connection between your body and All-That-Is. You were made of stardust, just like our planet and all of its inhabitants. 

• Notice what your body is (quietly) yearning for right now. Rest, warmth, movement, solitude, connection? Without judgment, just let yourself hear it. That’s enough.

• Support yourself by doing what you can to give yourself what you really need. Even if it's just a few minutes. It all matters. 

You are Nature, and Nature always knows the way home.

Harnessing your inner animal

I always love watching Benny. He’s very intuitive and goes with his gut. If he wants something, he’ll go after it (one day, I should tell you the story of when he took my shoe and climbed up onto my massage table). 

If he wants to go for a walk, you’ll know. If he’s in the mood for napping, he’ll go and find the coziest spot in the house and burrow under blankets. Observing him is always so interesting.

Animals don’t overthink their decisions; they simply… act.

They know exactly what their bodies need, and they just go and give themselves that. Have you ever wondered how they know when it’s time to hibernate? Sure, the snow might tip them off, but ultimately, they just know.

Humans, on the other hand, typically overthink everything. But we are also animals with animal bodies.

For centuries, we have been overriding what our bodies have been asking for. We are often so disconnected that we don’t even realize we are exhausted, stressed, or burnt out until we are way past okay.

But there are things we can do to help support our animal bodies getting back to listening to what we need and following our intuitive nudges, much like Benny does:

• You could try mindful eating and listening to your hunger cues: 

Instead of focusing on a specific diet with complicated rules, start focusing on tuning in and listening to what your body truly desires and needs. 

We can find ourselves getting stuck on having to do things just right. We need to follow the best diet for the best results, and while sometimes it’s necessary, it can often leave us stuck. We lose touch with figuring out what our bodies actually need. They will always tell us.

• You can try slow or seasonal living and proper rest: 

While it can be easy to get stuck in hating or loving one season or the other, every season is essential for Nature to grow and refresh as it needs to. Cycles need to keep happening. 

Slow living or seasonal living allows us to tune into what each season has gifted us. We focus on flowing and growing with each season. For instance, in winter we rest more while in summer we show up more invigorated and energetic. Implementing seasonal living practices can help us get back in touch with Nature and its ebbs and flows.

• Engage in movement that feels good to you: 

Instead of engaging in exhaustive workouts that leave you feeling drained, try gentle activities that honor your body's current energy levels. Each season will bring a different feeling to your body. 

When you tune in and block out all of the noise of the “shoulds” of exercise, your body will naturally guide you to the movement that feels best for it. When you tune into that, you’ll find exercising is easier and you’re more motivated to engage in it.

• Always find that Nature connection: 

Honestly, spring is on its way, and the transition from one season to another is my favorite time to be outside and immerse myself in Nature. I can feel the natural cycles the most when I’m physically present in them, and nothing feels better than taking a nice big breath of fresh air. 

Even if it’s just for a few minutes, I highly recommend taking a moment to be in Nature. Studies show that it’s great for your physical and mental health. If winter had you in the blues, it might be a great time to step outside and breathe as we transition into spring.

The gentle unfolding: Embracing the transition from winter to spring

Winter was all about “hunkering down,” getting extra rest, and enjoying a moment of reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the year. Winter is a gentle reset that guides us to who we are when spring arrives.

Winter helps us conserve energy and is a great time for some extra inner work. The days are short, and the darkness is long. The darkness can feel hard, but the darkness brings the stillness our nervous systems need as we finish the year.

Winter teaches us to deepen our roots. Life is gathering strength beneath the surface. The work that no one can see is taking place. If we never had a moment of rest and hibernation, we might never get to begin the internal growth process necessary for the external growth of spring.

Spring is more of a gradual unfolding. There isn’t a sudden burst. It takes its time and allows what needs to happen to happen in its own time. It never rushes because it knows spring will still come. There’s no forcing. 

The earth begins to thaw, and we see the first tiny buds rise from the ground that were brewing all through winter. The leaves start growing back on the trees.

Our bodies can mirror this transition. We don’t need to rush or force anything. We just need to trust in our own timing. After the rest and resetting we had through winter, now is our time to slowly let our bodies and souls come back alive.

Welcome Spring.

Reflection Questions:

1. Are you a person who loves the dark, cold days of winter or the long, warm days of summer? Why do you love that season the most? How do you feel during that season vs the other one?

2. What does it mean to harness your inner animal? How can you start to be more in tune with that side of you?

3. How do you feel as we transition from winter into spring? What do you notice about your mind, your thoughts, your body, and your soul as the days get longer and plants begin to grow again?