Dear Community/Yogis/Friends,

As the leaves turn and the air crisps, we find ourselves surrounded by the unmistakable presence of fall.

Earlier this week, at the conclusion of an iRest Yoga Nidra meditation practice on Zoom, we gathered in our usual sharing circle—a space of honesty, presence, and connection. Our theme was joy, and what unfolded was a beautiful tapestry of perspectives.

Some shared how fall is their favourite season—the colours, the scent of the earth, the sense of quieting down. Indeed, there can be joy in the coziness of sweaters, warm drinks, and the rhythms of nature slowing.

Others spoke just as truthfully about the struggle to feel joyful at this time of year—the pulling up of gardens, the cooler temperatures, the dimming light. For some, fall marks the beginning of a long winter, and with it, a sense of contraction or melancholy.

And yet, woven through the dichotomy of these experiences was a shared thread: the anticipated return of spring—a reminder that change is inevitable and renewal always comes.

This contrast is a powerful illustration of a more profound teaching within the iRest protocol: that joy is not merely a reaction to pleasant circumstances, but a quality that exists beneath our ever-changing experiences. In iRest, joy is recognized as one of the essential qualities of Being—not something we have to chase or earn, but something innate, always accessible, even in moments of sorrow or uncertainty.

Sometimes, joy is radiant—laughter, awe, delight. Other times, it is quiet and spacious—a soft okayness, a tender presence, a simple exhale. It may arise as a gentle acceptance of change or the inner stillness that comes when we stop striving to fix or improve the moment.

So, as we move through this season—whether you’re savouring the crisp air or yearning for the light of spring—I invite you to explore where joy might already be present, not as something to force or fabricate, but as something you can sense, however subtly, when you soften into being just as you are.

You may wish to journal, reflect, or sit quietly with one or more of the following invitations:

What do I associate with joy? Are these associations always tied to specific conditions or seasons?
How does joy feel in my body—when it’s clear and when it’s subtle?
Is it possible that joy is here, even now, alongside discomfort or uncertainty?

To further support your personal exploration of this theme, I’ve recorded a short guided iRest meditation on connecting with your inner joy—not as a feeling to generate, but as a quiet, abiding presence within. Click here to listen to or download the recording (mp4 format) or here for a Zoom audio file.

May your journaling or meditation practice reveal the joy that has always been quietly waiting beneath the surface—in every season, in every breath.

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine