✨ The Yoga of Seasonal Shift: Finding Your Inner Light When the Days Grow Dark
"Yoga of Seasonal Shift" and the transition into darker days.
This year, the beginning of November marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. We are officially ushering in the season of shorter days, colder air, and a noticeable shift in energy. If you're feeling a familiar sense of sluggishness, a quiet aversion to the cold, or even a dip in your mood, you are not alone.
This transition from the expansive energy of summer to the deep introspection of winter is universally challenging. But according to the ancient wisdom of Yogic philosophy, the discomfort isn't caused by the change itself—it's caused by our reaction to it.
The path to peace during the darker months lies in two simple, profound principles from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (1.12): Consistent Practice (Abhyasa) and Non-Attachment (Vairagya). By mastering these two tools, we can cultivate an internal stability that is entirely independent of the weather forecast.
Part I: The Root Problem—The Illusion of Avidya
Our struggle with the dark season begins with the most fundamental of the Pancha Kleshas (five afflictions of the mind): Avidya, or Ignorance.
What is Avidya here? It is the illusion that our happiness is external—that it depends on the sun being out, the temperature being warm, or our schedules being busy. When the light goes, we feel a loss, because we've momentarily forgotten that our truest source of joy (Purusha, the inner self) is internal and eternal.
The Reaction: Dvesha: This ignorance immediately leads to Dvesha (Aversion). We resist the cold, we resent the early darkness, and we struggle against the body’s natural desire to slow down. This resistance is often the root of our mental and emotional turmoil.
Modern wellness practices support this feeling. The loss of sunlight directly impacts our circadian rhythm and the natural energy levels our body experiences. The yogis knew this: what happens outside, affects the inside. Our practice is to balance it.
Part II: The Solution—Patanjali's Two-Part Practice
To overcome the Kleshas of aversion and ignorance, we apply the two-step formula:
1. The Effort: Abhyasa (Consistent, Sustained Practice)
When the external light decreases, we must intentionally increase our inner light and heat, known as Tapas (discipline/inner fire). Abhyasa is about establishing a daily rhythm that creates stability and non-negotiable nourishment.
🔥 Warming Movement & Tapas: Do not skip your movement practice. Focus on sequences that build internal heat, such as Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) or strong, grounding standing poses (like Warrior 2 or Triangle). A vigorous practice in the morning is a direct antidote to winter sluggishness.
💨 Energizing Pranayama: Use your breath to build inner fire and clear mental fog. Kapalabhati (Skull Shining Breath) is excellent for this. Practice 1–3 rounds of 20 quick, forced exhales through the nose, followed by a slow, deep recovery breath. This is your personal internal light switch.
🔴 Modern Support (Red Light & NIR Therapy): While the sun is distant, we can support our cellular energy and mitochondrial health through focused light. Red Light and Near-Infrared (NIR) therapy is an excellent modern Abhyasa, helping to recharge the body at the cellular level, reduce inflammation, and support healthy energy production, effectively mimicking the beneficial aspects of deep, foundational light.
2. The Surrender: Vairagya (Non-Attachment and Letting Go)
While we put in the effort of Abhyasa, we also need to practice Vairagya—the intentional surrender to the reality of the season. This is the end of Dvesha (aversion) to the dark. It is accepting the need for deep rest and turning inward.
🧘♀️ Yin for Deep Surrender: Embrace the slow, deep work of Yin Yoga. Poses like Supported Bridge or Caterpillar force us to sit with stillness and discomfort, teaching the body and mind how to surrender in the present moment. This long-hold practice is Vairagya in action.
🍽️ Grounding Nourishment (Ayurveda): Transition from the light, cooling foods of summer to warm, cooked, and grounding meals. Use warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric to maintain digestive fire (Agni) and keep you feeling centered and robust.
😴 Prioritize Rest: The dark naturally invites us to sleep. Honor your body’s increased need for rest. Going to bed earlier is a profound act of self-care and surrender.
🎧 Guided Meditation: The Stillness of Surrender
To help you cultivate this state of inner warmth and surrender, please find the audio link below. This practice is designed to ground you deeply and shift your focus from the external cold to your own stable, internal light.
Your Winter Sankalpa & Practice
Thoughtful practices:
A Practice in Vairagya (Non-Attachment): Gather small natural elements (pinecones, fallen leaves, stones) and arrange them into a beautiful, temporary mandala on a tabletop. After a week, gently dismantle it and return the materials to nature. This simple ecotherapy act consciously practices the non-attachment to form taught in the Kleshas.
Your Winter Intention (Sankalpa): Adopt this statement as your personal mantra for the season:"I see with clarity, and my light is internal and independent of the sun."
By embracing both the effort of Abhyasa and the surrender of Vairagya, you are choosing to find peace not despite the season, but within its natural, grounding rhythm.
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