16/01/2026
Wintering❄️
I love this term – ‘wintering’. Whilst it’s very appropriate for the season, it’s a perfect way to describe a deep inner need to slow down and take stock of life.
With clinic a lot quieter just now, I am presented with an opportunity to both plant seeds for the future and, myself, winter.
I so often remind others to winter too, especially when they feel the need to rest and retreat. Much of my work as an acupuncturist is in softening people’s nervous systems, reminding the body that it doesn’t need to be ‘ready to fight’ all the time. In fact, to be in fight mode all the time can be detrimental to our wellbeing. The tonic - life, just like Yin and Yang, requires balance between activity and rest. Yet our modern lives constantly tell us that rest is wrong and unconstructive.
I long ago learnt to embrace periods of ‘wintering’ after reading a wonderful book, appropriately named, “Wintering” by Katherine May. In no way an ad, I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who feels this resonates. And I encourage you to ‘winter’ just now!
If you need a little help with this, Acupuncture can be a wonderful place to start 👉 www.bryonydowsonacupuncture.co.uk/book-an-acupuncture-appointment)