Cozy from the Inside Out: A Hygge-Inspired Winter Yoga Practice

As winter hits us in full stride and a new year begins, you may find yourself inundated with talk of “New Year, New Me.” But is this the right path for you?

As soon as the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and the calendar shifts from 2025 to 2026, the messaging around us seems to change overnight. Suddenly, the focus shifts from cozy to doing more, fixing more, and pushing harder. However, this goes in direct contrast with what’s happening internally—a battle that is better explained with the concept of Hygge.

What is Hygge? 

Hygge is a Danish concept that centers on creating a sense of coziness, comfort, and deep contentment in everyday life. More than just an aesthetic, hygge is a mindset that encourages slowing down and being fully present in the moment. It’s about intentionally cultivating warmth and ease, both in your physical environment and in your emotional state, especially during life’s quieter or more challenging seasons.

As a lifestyle, hygge shows up in simple, meaningful ways—soft lighting from candles or lamps, warm and nourishing food and drinks, comfortable clothing, and spaces that feel safe and inviting. It also emphasizes connection, whether that means sharing a meal with loved ones, enjoying a calm conversation, or savoring peaceful time alone. Rather than chasing constant productivity, status, or material success, hygge values gratitude, balance, and the joy found in small moments. By appreciating what is already present, hygge encourages a gentler, more fulfilling approach to everyday happiness.

Why is this more in-tune with your internal nature?

During the winter months, shorter days, colder temperatures, unpredictable weather, and limited sunlight can naturally affect our mood and energy levels. It’s common to feel more tired, reflective, or inclined to stay indoors—feelings that often clash with the high-energy, productivity-driven messaging of “New Year, New Me.” Instead of feeling motivated, this pressure can make winter feel even more draining or isolating.

Hygge fits seamlessly into this season because it honors what many of us are already experiencing rather than pushing against it. Instead of demanding constant motivation or transformation, hygge encourages slowing down, embracing comfort, and finding warmth and contentment in small, intentional moments. By aligning with our natural desire for rest, coziness, and connection, hygge offers a gentler, more compassionate way to move through winter—one that supports emotional well-being and allows happiness to emerge naturally.

How can you bring Hygge into your practice?

Bringing Hygge into your yoga practice is about creating a sense of warmth, ease, and presence—both physically and emotionally. It can be as simple as soft lighting, a cozy layer or blanket, slower transitions, and an emphasis on breath and comfort over intensity. By allowing your practice to feel nurturing rather than demanding, you create space to slow down, listen inward, and fully arrive on your mat. Hygge in yoga invites you to move with kindness, savor quiet moments, and let your practice become a refuge of calm, connection, and gentle renewal.

If you’re wanting to learn how to fully embrace Hygge into your practice this year, our upcoming workshop Embracing Winter offers both practical insight and soulful support for finding balance and steadiness during the darker months of the year. While many of us instinctively resist the cold, shorter days, and slower pace, cultures that experience the longest winters often report high levels of well-being—largely because they learn to work with the season rather than against it. This perspective invites us to see winter not as something to endure, but as an opportunity to reset, restore, and reconnect.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the psychological and physiological effects of seasonal change and share evidence-based strategies to support mood, energy, and emotional balance. Through the principles of Hygge and Friluftsliv, you’ll learn how to cultivate warmth, comfort, and meaningful connection—both on and off the mat. We’ll also translate these ideas directly into your yoga practice, showing you how to create a slower, more nurturing rhythm through intention, environment, breath, and movement.

You’ll be guided in creating simple, personalized winter rituals that encourage rest, resilience, and grounding, while discovering the healing power of “wintering” as a metaphor for honoring stillness in your own life. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for winter’s quiet gifts—and practical tools to bring Hygge into your practice, helping you move through the season with greater ease, warmth, and intention.