By Subigya Sigdel

At about 6,100 meters on Mera Peak, with the wind in my face and the summit still far above me, a voice in my head said: “You’re a patient. Stop.”

I knew that voice. In the early phase of my MS, I was afraid of what the disease might do. My body was capable, but my nervous system and my thoughts would grow uneasy, as if they were protesting, and I would stop. On that mountain, I recognized the pattern.

So, I did what I have practiced for years. Yoga and breathwork have helped me master my mind and my body, and I turned to them now. I took three long, deep breaths and let my nervous system settle. Then I spoke to myself: we can, we can. I told myself not to let this disease define me, to keep rowing forward, and to prove I am more than my disease. My guide, Lhakpa Sherpa, reminded me of how far I had come, from a paralyzed body to that mountain. I took the next step, and then the next.

Winter at home is not so different. The days get shorter, the cold arrives, and my first warning sign is irritation over small things. On the mountain it was a blizzard; at home it is the cold. Either way, I ask myself: what can I do to bring ease?

Here is what helps me:

• Light, warm food. Warming vegetables keep my digestion calm, and I notice fewer emotional ripples over little things.
• Yoga and pranayama every morning, whatever the season or the length of the day. When unease arrives, I remind myself that I have already done my practice and that its benefits are stored in my body. That reminder helps me settle.
• An early rhythm. Early to bed, early to rise, and eight hours of sleep.
• Belief in myself. Life is not over. I can bounce back.

If you live with MS and dread the dark months, my advice is this: no one knows your body better than you. You can and should take help, but you are in charge of your life. Prepare for winter: get the things that make it comfortable, eat warm, and sleep on time. There is always an option to put yourself first.

This is my own experience, not medical advice. Please talk to your care team about what is right for you.

About Subigya Sigdel:

Subigya Sigdel is a 500-hour Ashtanga yoga instructor and sound healer, born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, and now based in Bangalore. In 2022, MS left him paralyzed and with severe vision loss. He summited Mera Peak on March 31, 2026, and founded Still Climbing: Diagnosed. Not Done, an MS awareness project. He plans to climb Manaslu, Everest, and Lhotse, with all three journeys featured in one documentary. Learn more at subigyasigdel.com.