AUTHENTIC
21 Days of Yoga with Ciara
December 1–21, 2025
Presence • Truth • Winter Solstice
As we move from the steadiness of INTEGRITY into the deep dwelling of December, our final journey of the year asks something wholesome, brave, and honest:
Can I show up as myself — fully, simply, without hiding?
Where Integrity was the inner alignment,
Authenticity is the expression of that alignment in the world.
Not performance.
Not perfection.
Just presence.
This journey arrives in the heart of winter, when nature is in full descent — rooting down, drawing inward, holding what is essential. Dwelling deeply.
While the outer world speeds up with noise, brightness, and busyness, we follow a different rhythm:
the rhythm of candlelight, firelight, slow breaths, quiet corners, deep listening.
AUTHENTIC is about the safety to be yourself — not just within yourself, but in the daylight of your life, in your movement, your decisions, your boundaries, your expression.
It is the deep dwelling of the year.
The long night before the light begins its return.
The solstice space where truth can deeply heal.
I heard a Solstice greeting recently — it sang to me:
“May your days be brighter from here on.”
THE THEMES OF AUTHENTICITY
Across these 21 days we explore:
1. Presence as Truth
Listening inward before listening outward.
Noticing what’s real in the body, not what’s expected from the world.
2. Safety to Be Seen
Authenticity isn’t about exposure —
it’s about having enough inner and outer structure to let yourself be met.
3. Deep Dark Dwelling
Turning toward the season instead of resisting it.
Honouring the Celtic/pagan cycle of descent, rest, stillness, and reflection.
4. The Candle in the Corner
A small, steady flame that brings light to the deep of you.
We will be returning to the practice of lighting a candle at the start of the practice —
to guide us, to hold the space, to create a container for the practice,
to remind us of the journey ahead into the darkness,
with light as the direction.
5. Reflection Before Sowing
In the gardens of Naduir, we are not planting yet.
But we are reflecting… noticing:
– What grew well this year
– What do we need to discontinue
– What flourished and brought nourishment
We are reflecting on the growing year and planning the growth for the year ahead.
The same in my yoga practice:
What will I continue?
What will I allow to slide away and discontinue?
Aligning myself to nourishment, health, and wellness — now, in the pause.
6. Embodied Honesty
How do I move when I am not performing?
What does “true movement” feel like?
How do I turn up as myself in my day, my life, my relationships?
MOVEMENT CONCEPTS FOR AUTHENTICITY
These build naturally from the INTEGRITY concepts — but go deeper, slower, more inward, more real.
1. The Deep Pause
A longer, quieter pause than in INTEGRITY.
Not just choice before movement — but truth before expression.
2. Candlelight Movement
Shapes that feel like lighting a small flame in a dark room —
slow rising, gentle opening, small illuminations.
3. Authentic Effort
Choosing effort because it feels true, not because it looks good.
Strength that comes from honesty, not striving.
4. Winter Spine Work
Twists, folds, slow arcs — curling inward,
descending, conserving energy, gathering yourself.
5. Shadow & Light Shapes
Exploring the corners of the body:
behind the leg, under the rib, the side body, the hidden lines —
movement that reveals what’s been tucked away.
6. Belly and Centre
Centred practices around the belly, diaphragm, and low ribs —
the home of instinct, intuition, and authenticity.
7. Slow Fire Strength
Low, steady, ember-like strength:
planks, lunges, chair poses that build heat without rush.
8. Grounded Receptivity
Releasing into the floor.
Letting the ground witness you.
Not performing for the air.
9. The Long Exhale
Breath that softens the masks,
melts the tension of pretending,
and brings you back to your own truth.
10. Being Seen (Gently)
Movements that lift, open, or face forward —
not as presentation,
but as embodied permission to take up space.
WHY DECEMBER? WHY AUTHENTIC?
Because authenticity doesn’t happen in the bright rush of summer.
It happens here — in the season of slowness, firelight, reflection, truth-telling, and deep rest.
Because to be authentic, the body needs safety.
And safety is built through stillness, breath, repetition, slowness, warmth, and ritual.
Because the solstice is a turning point —
a natural, elemental, cycle-driven night where the world holds its breath
and the first whisper of returning light begins.
Because you were not meant to sprint into the new year.
You were meant to descend, rest, reflect, prepare.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
slow, steady, grounding practices
deep somatic listening
nervous system gentleness
firelight & winter rhythm
reflection prompts
intentional stillness
shapes that ask for honesty
practices that pull you into your centre
WINTER SOLSTICE CLASS — December 21st
We end with a soft, candle-lit ritual practice.
Honouring the longest night.
Tending the inner flame.
Welcoming the first breath of returning light.
“May your days be brighter from here on.”
DETAILS
December 1–21, 2025
Live at 7AM, or practise anytime with the replay.
Come as you are.
Bring the shadows.
Bring the light.
Let’s dwell in the deep dark together —
and be AUTHENTIC.
How to Join
When: December 1–21, 2025
Live: 7AM each morning (Irish time) — streamed from the west coast of Ireland
Watch Anytime: Replays available after 7:30AM on YouTube and Facebook
Join live or move later in your own rhythm—you’re part of this journey either way.
Exchange
€20 for the full 21 days
Payable via PayPal, Revolut, or Credit Card
Stay Connected
🌐 Website: www.yogawithciara.yoga
📺 YouTube: Yoga with Ciara
📷 Instagram: @bodywisdom_yoga
💬 Facebook: Yoga with Ciara Community
For more journeys:
https://yogawithciara.yoga/
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