Winter Solstice Ritual: A Yoga Practice to Celebrate the Return of the Light

“The new solar year is upon us as the Earth begins her journey to tilt back toward the Sun” ~ Wanderlust Yoga

First Day of Winter

This first day of winter on Dec 21 is the longest night of the year. It occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is furthest from the sun.

According to its Latin roots, the word solstice means “sun standing still," and winter solstice has been recognized across many cultures as a time to celebrate the gradual return of the light.

A Time for Gratitude

The solstice is a night to give gratitude for the year that has passed, asking ourselves: What have we gained from this darkness? This night invites us to set intentions for the light-filled year to come, asking ourselves: What lessons can I take forward into the light?

For thousands of years, the Winter Solstice has been celebrated around the world—acknowledging the shortest day of the year as a return to the light. 

On the solstice, we honor an ancient tradition of ritual and celebration with 108 Sun Salutations.

Each salutation signifies the completion of another cycle: another turn of the day, the season, and of time before the emergence of light once again. 

Creating Ritual

On this night we invite to create a ritual and set an intention.

Light a candle, or bring your favorite crystals alongside your yoga mat.

Carve out time for meditative movement and time to ask yourself these questions:

What have we gained from this darkness?

What lessons can I take forward into the light?

Write your intention in your journal or somewhere you can read it often. 

On this Solstice, we thank the day, we thank the gifts of the darkness and we thank the coming light.