Wintering, Nourishment & Staying with the Heart
"Be humble: you are made of dust. Be noble; you are made of stars." Thich Nhat Hanh
Hello dear friends,
And on Tuesday afternoon—after a walk with my dog, taking in the midday sun, receiving a nourishing sound bath, and giving myself time to really arrive in January’s theme of nourish and restore—I'm finally able to share in this form with you.
I’m grateful to be here with you.
Many of us are holding a great deal right now. The capacity to stay attuned and listen to the hardships and violence unfolding in our country, alongside this season of wintering that may still be asking us to turn inward, to do less—even as the demands of daily life ask for more.
I know this tension well. My call to service remains strong, the to-do list ever long, and yet I’m noticing that two, three, maybe four items a day is truly what my capacity holds right now. This, too, feels like practice.
So I continue to ask—both for myself and for you:
How is your spirit?
Perhaps you’ve been moving through sickness or lingering fatigue.
Or maybe this new year is meeting you with fresh eyes, inviting you into the more luminous qualities of vata—air, spaciousness, possibility.
Often, we move between these states.
As always, my embodied offerings are here to support you—to ground and connect, to enliven and restore.
In my own practice lately, simplicity has been my guide. Saucha—purifying, clarifying, returning again and again to what is essential. Resting the body, and then gently inviting vitality back into my service. I’m feeling much better overall, still tending a lingering cough at times, and deeply appreciative of the grace and understanding you continue to offer.
I’ve added a dynamic calendar to my classes page so you can easily see where and how to practice with me. Weekly offerings are ongoing, both online and in person. (And a note for your planning: there will be no classes on Monday in observance of MLK Day—and truly, don’t we need the pause?)
This past week, I also spent time at the Japanese Garden, which offered a generous invitation toward compassion and connection in response to the brokenness and unrest we’re witnessing. Walking slowly through the garden, letting beauty, care, and intentional design speak quietly—this felt like a balm. I’ll be sharing a few images and reflections there, alongside other inspirations from peers who are tending winter wisely this season.
Before you move on with your day, I invite you to pause for five slow rounds of breath:
- Inhale, feeling the body receive
- Exhale, softening what you can release
Let the breath be enough.
As always, I welcome you to take in these practices in the ways that serve you—and, if it feels aligned, to support my livelihood by joining me in these spaces. May we continue to take care with heart, to show up for one another, and to tend the good fire by caring for body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Upcoming Offerings
Heart Spring Health (Sellwood)
Morning classes Mon, Mon (6:30a) & Tues (10:00am) Root & Rise
Afternoon/Eve Wed Slow Flow (4:45p) or Wed Yin/Restore (6:00p).
✨ $25 for 14 days of unlimited classes (a wonderful way to explore)
This space is offering 5/6 daily classes 6 days per week right now, come explore!
Breathwork, Soundbath, Somatic practices, Qigong, Cooking Classes & more.
Online
Community Circle (30 min): 11am PT.
• Free Online Pause: centering + nervous system resets with yoga therapy tools
Friday Flow (Online) 8am PT (45min)
• A grounding, enlivening practice to support vitality and steady energy
Saturday @ Humberside Loft
In-person practice - Tea, treats, and connection always follow
View the complete, updated schedule and register here:
www.mayalakeyoga.com/classes
No Classes 1/19
New: Monday Free Accessible Classes
9am Root to Rise, 10am Strength & Stability
Beginner-friendly, in-person, and welcoming
@ Basecamp Providence St. Vincent
As we continue wintering, may tending your spirit be your compass.
May warmth, water, and rest support whatever is stirring—or ready to be held.
In radiance & rest,
with love & light,
Maya
Listen: Coming Home Playlist)
Personalize: Yoga Therapy
Gaze: Wholehearted Images Below
