Hard to believe, especially here in Ohio, that the first day of winter is this coming Saturday. With the weather we’ve been having, you would have thought winter was halfway over.
After the summer is over, I start to go into a serious funk that starts with the first time I have to put on socks, to saying goodbye to green grass, to barely seeing the light of day when you wake up in the dark and go home from work in the dark.
I crave sunshine, live to be outdoors, and one of my favorite days each year is the one where I can ditch the socks and set my toes free in sandals. I think that is one of the reasons I love teaching yoga so much: I work in a heated room where the dress code is barefoot!
Last week I experienced one of the days of the year I dread, the first time I have to clean the snow off of my car. It was made even more special by the fact I was not properly dressed to face these wintry conditions.
The first day of winter – aka the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year – is this Saturday, December 21. I used to get really bummed out on this day, but now I’ve come to realize that it’s actually something to be celebrated. Yes, celebrated, because on December 22 we can look forward to the daylight hanging out with us a little bit longer.
I’m also using this shift in the seasons to go within and do some spiritual cleansing. Thankfully there is a winter solstice cleanse program being led by Gretchen Horinger at Yoga Bliss Akron to guide me through the experience.
During the next week I’ll be getting up early to practice yoga, meditate and chant, and eat a healthy vegetarian diet. I’ll also be giving up coffee, wine, and sweets. These actions are meant to create a lightness that will allow me to let go of the darkness of this year. I’m planning a lot of time to be inwardly attentive and, with the space created from letting go, to bring in new light and inspiration for the new season and year to come.
I started my cleanse on Saturday, but if you live in the area and want to participate in the Yoga Bliss program, you can begin a 3-day cleanse with the group on Thursday, December 19. Believe me when I say that the discipline this type of program takes is much easier when you have the support of a community of fellow yogis.
Also of note, this Tuesday, December 17, is a full moon, another powerful time to stop, go inward, reflect, and listen to the universe. I’m planning on going outside as long as I can Tuesday night to let the moon shine its gorgeous light on me, and you can bet we’ll be doing moon salutations in my yoga classes this week.
Full moon photo courtesy of Alison Harris Jaggers
(taken during a beach yoga full moon class this summer in Vermilion)
Don’t let the darkness of this time of year get you down. Instead, let the darkest day of the year become one of the brightest by letting go of the past, celebrating the rebirth of this season, and opening up your heart to the abundance of light, love, and peace to come.
If you live in northeast Ohio you can celebrate with me on Saturday!
WINTER SOLSTICE YOGA CLASS with LIVE MUSIC
lightness and help you let go of the darkness from this past year. We’ll
celebrate the light through yoga, meditation, community, and I’m thrilled to say
The class will be held at the Community Room
Vermilion School Board offices
1230 Beechview Drive, Vermilion, Ohio
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Vermilion Class Fee: $8 for Vermilion School employees, or $10 per class, Eight class passes available for $64
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SKIASANA – Jan 15-19, 2014
