Yoga and seasonal practices for real life — rooted in presence, care, and environment.

organic ginger when possible, peeled and serrated or grated

Ginger, Lemon & Honey: A Warm Winter Drink for Seasonal Wellness Support

This warm ginger, lemon, and honey drink is a simple way to support the body during winter, when cold, dryness, and dullness tends to dominate. 

There is an orientation that develops when we begin to attune to seasons.

And when I say seasons, I’m not only referring to the obvious shifts of weather and daylight in the place you live. Seasons also exist within a life — in months of effort or rest, in weeks that feel heavy or light, in the unfolding of a relationship, or in the quieter inner seasons we don’t always name.

The ebb and flow of change itself is seasonal.

Winter Qualities and Seasonal Health

It’s early February in Ohio. This winter has been exceptionally cold. Last week, my child’s school closed entirely — temperatures were too low for students in a walking district to safely travel.

In winter here, certain qualities reliably dominate: cold, sharp, hard, slowness, contraction, stiffness, and dryness. Even in a humid region, winter dries the tissues. Movement slows. Energy consolidates. The body naturally turns inward.

Surrendering to this seasonal slowing is not optional. Resisting it usually leads to frustration or depletion. At the same time, too much stagnation — physical or mental — can feel heavy and uncomfortable.

Supporting health, in this context, means introducing opposing qualities in a way that is steady and sustainable. Stimulate, brighten, warm, and support movement and moisture with this caring and deliciously cozy beverage. 

The ginger can steep in hot water prior to adding lemon & honey

A Simple Ginger, Lemon, and Honey Drink for Winter

Warm water with ginger, lemon, and honey is not a cure or a correction. It’s a way of offering the body warmth, movement, and clarity during a season that tends toward cold and inertia.

Many people reach for this drink when they feel heavy, congested, or slow in winter, though experiences vary from person to person. 

Each component contributes something distinct.

Warm water supports circulation and gentle movement when the body tends toward contraction.

Ginger introduces warmth and sharpness. It helps soften density and encourages internal circulation without forcing the system.

Lemon adds brightness and stimulation. Its sour quality cuts through heaviness and supports flow, offering clarity without over-drying.

Honey is a unique substance, especially when honey is used in warm drinks. Honey is a complex substance in Ayurveda, with many gifts. In Ayurveda, honey is understood not simply as a sweetener, but as something that helps carry and amplify the effects of other ingredients. Its behavior depends on context — what it’s combined with, how it’s used, and when it’s added. Honey could have itself 10,000 blog posts, each one more interesting than the previous.

For our purpose today, honey is added last, once the drink has cooled slightly but the honey will still melt when stirred.

A simple preparation might look like this:

• One quart of warm water

• Fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced, about 9cm

• Juice of one lemon

• Honey, about 2T, added last

This is especially supportive in winter, when plain water can feel uninspiring and the body benefits from warmth and subtle stimulation. It’s a small, consistent way to encourage movement when things feel cold, slow, or stuck.

Seasonal support doesn’t require complexity. It requires attention — and the willingness to meet the moment you’re actually in.

A warm drink of ginger, lemon, and honey is one small but meaningful way to work with the season rather than push against it. 

Is this a tried & true winter beverage for you already? Did you try it for the first time? Let me know in the comments.

Local honey & organic lemons when possible are ideal