Wintering
a companion through winter and other seasons of change
Wintering
A six-month journey through the darker half of the year
October 2026 – March 2027
Winter invites us to live differently. As the days shorten and the world slows, we are offered a chance to step away from the constant pressure to keep going, to produce, to strive, and instead to listen more deeply to ourselves, to one another, and to the rhythms of the natural world.
Wintering is a six-month journey of companionship through the darker season. Each month we gather online for a gentle, facilitated circle where we reflect on the season, share our lived experience, and explore practices to support us through the month ahead. There is no expectation to have the answers, only an invitation to arrive exactly as you are.
Although rooted in the seasons, Wintering is also about how we accompany ourselves through any period of change. Whether you are navigating loss, transition, uncertainty, burnout, menopause, illness, or simply sensing that life is asking something different of you, this is a space to slow down, make meaning, and discover the quiet wisdom that can emerge when we stop rushing towards the next thing.
Throughout the journey we will be accompanied by Francis Weller's In the Absence of the Ordinary. Each month we'll read a chapter together, allowing Weller's reflections on change, belonging, restraint, affection and the care of the soul to deepen our conversations. Alongside the book, I'll share a carefully chosen poem each month, together with a gentle reflection and an invitation to carry with you into the weeks ahead.
Over six months we'll journey through six themes:
October – Arrive: Crossing the threshold into winter, setting intentions and embracing the unknown.
November – Release: Letting go of what no longer serves us and discovering the gift of restraint.
December – Receive: Finding warmth, gratitude and connection in the heart of the dark season.
January – Rest: Slowing to the pace of winter, listening deeply and trusting what is quietly unfolding.
February – Listen: Discovering the medicine of the long dark and noticing what winter has been teaching us.
March – Return: Emerging gently into spring, carrying forward what has nourished us and reconnecting with what matters most.
Each monthly gathering includes a guided meditation journey, reflective journalling, and the invitation to share from our own experience in a welcoming small group, and simple contemplative practices inspired by nature, poetry and wisdom traditions. Between meetings, our private WhatsApp community offers a place to continue the conversation, share reflections from the book, poems that resonate, photographs from winter walks, and the small moments that remind us we are not making this journey alone.
To create the depth of conversation and sense of community that Wintering is built upon, the group is intentionally limited to twelve participants. This is not a curriculum to work through, but a small circle of companions who will journey through the season together.
For those who would like to weave a regular embodied practice into the experience, there is the option to add six months of TEND membership at a reduced rate. TEND offers weekly live yin and restorative yoga, meditation and a monthly Yoga Nidra recording, providing an opportunity to embody the themes we're exploring together each month. Existing TEND members are warmly invited to join Wintering at a discounted rate.
Your Winter Companion Includes
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Six monthly online Wintering Circles (October–March), each lasting around 90 minutes, with guided meditation, reflective journalling and facilitated sharing.
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A small, intimate group, limited to twelve participants, creating space for genuine connection and meaningful conversation.
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A monthly poem and reflection, delivered by email to accompany you between gatherings.
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Gentle journalling prompts and seasonal invitations to help you continue the conversation with yourself throughout the month.
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A private WhatsApp community where we can share reflections, poems, photographs, questions and moments of everyday wintering
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A closing reflection to help you gather what you've discovered and carry it with you into spring.
Optional Add-on
Six months of TEND membership at a reduced rate.
If you'd like to support your Wintering journey with regular embodied practice, you can add weekly TEND membership, including:
Weekly 90 minute live yin, somatics + restorative yoga with meditation class
Monthly Yoga Nidra rest practice
On-demand access to a growing library of nourishing practices, including yin yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra
Who is this for?
Wintering is for anyone who feels called to slow down, listen more deeply, and spend time reflecting on the season of life they are moving through.
It may be for you if:
You are moving through a time of change, transition or uncertainty and would like a space to pause and make meaning of your experience.
You feel tired of the pressure to always be doing, achieving and becoming, and long for a different pace.
You are drawn to the wisdom of the seasons and want to reconnect with the natural rhythms of rest, renewal and change.
You are navigating a threshold in life, whether that is a new beginning, an ending, a shift in identity, or simply a sense that something is changing beneath the surface.
You value honest conversation, gentle reflection and being part of a small community where you can show up exactly as you are.
You are looking for a practice of accompaniment rather than another programme of self-improvement.
You don't need to have experience with meditation, yoga or reflective practices. You don't need to arrive with a particular intention or a problem to solve. Wintering is an invitation to come as you are, and to journey alongside others through the quieter months of the year.
This is a space for those who want to listen, reflect, and discover what might emerge when we make room for stillness.
Wintering might not be for you if...
you’re looking for a productivity programme, a challenge to complete, or a space for finding quick fixes. It is a slower, more spacious exploration of change, connection and belonging.
Meet Your Guide
Wintering is held by Michelle, founder of TEND.
I have been practising yoga and meditation for over 30 years, and my own journey has been shaped by contemplative traditions, including Buddhist practice, yin and restorative yoga, somatic movement and the wisdom of the seasons. I am a lay-ordained Buddhist practitioner within the Vajrayana tradition, and this path continues to inform the way I approach practice, change and community.
For me, Wintering is not about withdrawing from life or trying to become a better version of ourselves. It is an invitation to meet ourselves more honestly, to honour the seasons of change we move through, and to discover what becomes possible when we slow down enough to listen.
My work is rooted in creating spaces where people can explore their own experience with curiosity, compassion and agency. I believe that we do not need to be fixed; we need spaces where we can be witnessed, supported and reminded of our connection to ourselves, each other and the wider world.
Through TEND, I offer seasonal practices, circles and contemplative spaces that weave together movement, meditation, reflection and community. I am honoured to accompany people through the quieter seasons of life, and to create spaces where we can pause, listen and tend to what matters.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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No. Wintering is open to everyone. You don't need any previous experience, and you don't need to arrive with a particular intention or something you want to "work on". This is a space to slow down, listen and reflect, exactly as you are.
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Each circle is a gentle, facilitated gathering where we explore the month's theme through meditation, journalling, poetry, reflection and optional sharing. There is space to share your own experience, but there is never any pressure to speak. You are welcome to simply listen and be part of the circle.
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Wintering is not therapy, but it is a reflective and supportive space. We will explore themes of change, uncertainty, belonging and transition through sharing and contemplative practices. You are encouraged to engage at a level that feels appropriate for you.
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Wintering is intentionally small so that everyone has the opportunity to be known, heard and held within the circle. A smaller group allows for deeper conversation and a stronger sense of connection over the six months.
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For those who would like to support the reflective work of Wintering with regular embodied practice, you can add six months of TEND membership at a reduced rate. This includes weekly seasonal yin and restorative yoga, meditation, Yoga Nidra and access to a growing library of practices. Live classes take place on Tuesdays 7-8.30pm UK time, and are themed around the seasons of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Yes, do get in touch to arrange: email michelle.yeshe.lhatso@gmail.com
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No. We will read one chapter of Francis Weller's In the Absence of the Ordinary each month and use it as a starting point for reflection and conversation. The book is a companion for the journey, not a piece of homework.
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No, to maintain privacy and integrity of sharing, the monthly circles are not recorded. The value of Wintering comes from gathering together, so joining live wherever possible is encouraged. If you need to miss a session, you will still be part of the WhatsApp community and can continue reflecting with the group between gatherings.
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The WhatsApp group is a gentle space to stay connected between circles. You can share reflections, poems, moments from your winter walks, questions arising from the book, or simply witness others' experiences. There is no expectation to be constantly active.
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Because this is a small, intimate group journey, we ask that participants are able to commit to the six-month arc as much as possible. The continuity of the group is part of what makes the experience meaningful.
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Wintering welcomes people through all seasons of life, including times of change and uncertainty. You are invited to participate in a way that feels supportive for you. If you are currently in acute distress or need therapeutic support, a dedicated mental health professional or support service may be a more appropriate source of care.
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Circles are always on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm - 8.30pm UK time:
7th Oct
4th Nov
2nd Dec
6th Jan
3rd Feb
3rd Mar
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No. Wintering is an invitation to step away from the idea that we are projects to be fixed. Instead, we will explore what becomes possible when we slow down, pay attention and learn to accompany ourselves and others through times of change.
Your place in the Wintering circle
Wintering is intentionally held as a small, intimate group so that there is space for genuine connection, reflection and meaningful conversation. The journey is limited to twelve participants.
Wintering Journey
October 2026 – March 2027
Your place includes:
Six monthly online Wintering Circles, held on the first Wednesday of the month 7-8.30pm
Guided meditation, journalling and reflective practices
Shared exploration of Francis Weller's In the Absence of the Ordinary
A monthly poem and reflection to accompany you between circles
Seasonal invitations and journalling prompts
Access to the private Wintering WhatsApp community
£195 (payment plans available - email michelle.yeshe.lhatso@gmail.com)
Optional: Add TEND
For those who would like to weave regular embodied practice into their Wintering journey, you can add six months of TEND membership at a reduced rate.
This includes:
Weekly live seasonal yin and restorative yoga
Meditation and Yoga Nidra practices
Access to a growing library of seasonal yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra practices to return to whenever you need them
Add TEND for £90 (total for Wintering + TEND is £285)
(payment plans available - email michelle.yeshe.lhatso@gmail.com)
If you feel drawn to join, you are warmly invited to step into this small circle of companions for the season.