It takes a force of nature to fortify me against MS
Winter brings with it yin energy and a satisfying bout of darkness
While most people dread the longer nights of autumn and winter, I embrace every single minute of darkness added as we crawl toward the longest night of the year. As darkness takes over, that’s my cue to gather up all the energy I expended during spring and summer to fortify my body and keep my multiple sclerosis (MS) at bay.
We Iranians celebrate Shab-e Yalda (Yalda night) around Dec. 21. It’s a cozy gathering around a low, blanket-covered table with a heater under it, eating persimmons, pomegranates, and other winter fruit while telling stories and staying warm.
Shab-e Yalda coincides with the winter solstice, the celestial transition from autumn into winter. Chinese medicine would describe this time as the peak of yin energy, which can feel cool, dark, wet, quiet, and have a feminine quality. The Yalda celebration in Persian culture is described as the force of light triumphing over darkness.
But what if darkness is just as good and important as light? I choose to think of this time as the peak of that dark, yin energy that lets me get quiet, still, and introspective. I don’t want to have to choose between dark and light.
How does the changing rhythm of the season change my rhythms and routines, especially those tied to my MS?
My winter days and nights
Enveloped in the darkness before dawn, I find it so much easier to quiet the mind. It’s my favorite time to meditate, practice yoga, and get those physical therapy exercises done.
A cup of herbal tea, with ginger for warmth and lemon for extra vitamin C, feels nourishing as I warm up my insides.
Time to get dressed: I layer my ’80s leggings over my wool leggings, don multiple layers on top, beanie on my head, fuzzy socks, finished off with my fake Uggs. And none of it matches.
I take my time making breakfast for the family, not my usual mad rush. The light is still low, and I feel like there’s so much time between me and the rest of the day.
Knowing that there’s less daylight now, I do my best to get outside to catch direct natural light for at least 30 minutes before 10 a.m. My circadian rhythms are starving for light, so getting some early in the morning helps them stay on track. On the days I don’t get outside, I position my laptop against my brightest window so natural light can passively filter in through the window and then my eyes.
I open the windows by my workstation at home intentionally to let cold air in. That’s one of my favorite hormetic stresses to make sure my microscopic body systems are up and running. This short-term discomfort feels invigorating and not cold because I’ve reframed that sensation. Opening windows is also a great way to ventilate the house since air quality decreases when windows and doors are kept shut during the winter months.
I make Persian aush, which is a thick, hearty soup that’s a blend of chopped herbs, onions, garlic, turmeric, and whatever dry beans I have on hand. Of course, aush tastes best when my mom makes it because there’s extra love infused into it. Nevertheless, it’s the perfect food for these gray, quiet days.
As the night arrives earlier, so does my bedtime routine. After a quick, warm shower in near darkness with a cold shot in the end, I can’t wait to hop into wool pajamas and fuzzy socks. I’m now in bedtime yoga mode, further quieting things down. I turn on my favorite bedtime podcast (aka sleep training for adults), and I’m out before the host even has a chance to finish reading the advertising introduction. I sleep soundly and deeply, cuddled up in my favorite sheets with some combination of husband and kids. And then I naturally wake up and do it all over again.
Few things can slow me down like the yin energy of this time. It’s nature’s way of telling me it’s OK to go slow, do less, get pensive, and save my energy … because spring is right around the corner.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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