REGINA — Winter in Saskatchewan does more than drop temperatures. It shortens days, disrupts routines, and for many, triggers Seasonal Affective Disorder, often called seasonal depression. Longtime Regina personal trainer Rod Flahr believes one of the most powerful ways to fight it is with movement.
“When you’re heading to work in the dark and coming home in the dark, people shut down,” Flahr explains. “Exercise changes what’s happening in your brain.”
Flahr, with more than 30 years in the fitness industry, says regular movement triggers dopamine and other feel-good chemicals that stabilize mood and restore motivation. Fitness during winter, he stresses, isn’t about appearance, it’s about mental survival.
“People need that physical release to get pointed in the right direction mentally,” he says.
Throughout his career, Flahr said he has seen tens of thousands of clients and countless struggles with seasonal depression. Symptoms often start subtly: fatigue, isolation, low energy, and emotional withdrawal. Seasonal Affective Disorder stems from reduced sunlight, which disrupts the body’s internal clock and brain chemicals that regulate mood and sleep. The result is exhaustion, low mood and difficulty coping with daily life.
“Movement builds positive habits,” Flahr notes. “You see progress, and that momentum carries over into how you feel.”
He trains his staff to understand not just workouts, but the person in front of them, recognizing warning signs, understanding motivation, and keeping sessions engaging.
Mental health experts say exercise is only part of the solution. Consistent routines, daylight exposure, balanced nutrition, and social connection all help regulate mood. Isolation worsens seasonal depression, while community and connection can make a meaningful difference.
Flahr also emphasizes the importance of talking about mental health, especially among men.
“From my generation, we were taught to bury things and not talk about how we feel,” he reflects. “But this is real. I’ve seen how deeply it affects people.”
As Saskatchewan winters press on, his advice is simple: move your body, keep routines, stay connected and don’t wait for spring.
Because the fight against seasonal depression begins long before the snow melts.
