Wintering: Accepting the pace of the season

It’s January in Pittsburgh. The cold air settles in and the days are short and gray. Winter persists with its own unique rhythm—a pace that slows down, inviting us to do the same. While the holiday season and start of the new calendar year may bring their own busy energy, the colder months often signal a time to turn inward, embrace rest, and honor the natural rhythms of the season. Winter, in its quietude, offers us an opportunity to engage in what has been called “wintering”—a practice of accepting the slower pace of winter rather than fighting against it.

For many of us, winter can bring feelings of heaviness, isolation, or burnout. The lack of sunlight, icy temperatures, and unrelenting schedules can make it difficult to find the time and energy for self-care. Yet, this season also offers a profound invitation to slow down, nurture ourselves, and reconnect with our inner stillness.

I battle this each year. On one hand, I’m tired and feel called to rest more, and on the other, I feel the pull to jump into the new year with big goals that just. can’t. wait. And I will be keeping some of those - I’ve recently overcome some injuries and am so excited to be training regularly again. In addition, I’m re-incorporating practices that are so available to me - like meditation and float therapy - into my winter routine. I may be biased, but I see these practices as an effective way to honor the quieter pace of the season, reduce the physical and mental stresses training can bring, and find moments of peace and clarity. Let’s explore how these practices can support your well-being as we embrace the deep, restorative energy of winter.

Why we Winter

The term "wintering" as I learned it come from Katherine May’s book by the same title: Wintering, the Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. It is derived from the idea that the winter months (and other times of hardship and sparseness) are a time for unrepentant rest, renewal, and introspection. Just as nature slows down in winter—trees shed their leaves, animals hibernate, and the earth settles—humans, too, can benefit from slowing their pace and focusing on rest. Instead of pushing through the season with an attitude of productivity and outward hustle, wintering encourages us to lean into the quieter rhythms, giving ourselves permission to rest and recharge.

Winter can be a time of reflection, rest, and reconnection. It is a time to acknowledge what needs tending—whether that’s emotional healing, physical relaxation, or spiritual nourishment. By integrating regular practices like meditation and floating, we can foster the deeper sense of peace, focus, and renewal that we crave at this point in the year. There will be time to push the pace - when spring comes and summer blooms. Our energy has ebbs and flows just like our earth.

Meditation: Finding Stillness in the Cold

Winter offers the perfect backdrop for meditation, a practice that encourages us to embrace stillness and quiet the mind. When the world outside seems to slow down, meditation invites us to do the same. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and demands of everyday life, especially during the busy holiday season, but the practice of sitting with ourselves in stillness can be a powerful antidote to the noise we just endured.

Meditation has been shown to help reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and cultivate mindfulness—all of which are especially valuable during the winter months when we might feel more fatigued, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained.

Float Therapy: Embracing Deep Relaxation

Alongside meditation, float therapy can be a perfect complement to your winter self-care routine. The peaceful float tank environment is designed to minimize external distractions and create the perfect space for deep relaxation and introspection. As always here at Victory, your float can be as “sensory deprived” as you want it to be. I’ve been floating for almost 10 years at this point and LOVE the music on the lowest setting. It’s barely perceptible but so soothing in the background. 

Much like meditation, float therapy offers a chance to disconnect from the noise and find stillness. It is particularly beneficial in winter, when the body may feel more fatigued from colder temperatures or unwanted stress. The buoyancy of the water supports the body, reducing tension in the muscles and joints while promoting a sense of weightlessness. This creates an opportunity for deep physical and mental relaxation, something that can feel rare during the busy winter months.

Winter is a time to slow down, reflect, and recharge. By incorporating practices like meditation and float therapy into your cold weather routine, you can honor the natural rhythm of the season and embrace this art of “wintering.” These practices offer the opportunity for deep relaxation, mental clarity, and emotional healing—essential elements for navigating the colder months with grace and balance.

So, as winter settles in, accept its pace. Allow yourself the gift of rest and self-care, and let the practices of meditation and float therapy guide you into a season of inner stillness and renewal.

Here at Victory, we see your wintering practices in action. Every one of our services is used most often in the winter months - when we need to recharge the most. In addition this year, we’ll be offering a Zen Meditation course in our Sewickley salt cave. More information can be found here, or by emailing Lindsey at lindsey@floatvictory.com.