As we head toward the Winter Solstice, the weather is colder, and the days are shorter. Because the sun is waning, this time of year is dominated by the moon. The moon's energy is nurturing, so this is the perfect time of year to nurture yourself. Some tips for doing so include:
Balance Stillness with Activity
This season is marked by cold, damp, and stillness; but there are also lots of social events around the holidays. This pull between the cold, stillness and the active, social events needs to be balanced. Spend time with family and friends, but also take a little time each day to be still and go within. If you overdo it with holiday parties, stay in and hibernate after the parties. Cozy up by the fire, read a book, and get to bed by 10:00 pm. To relax and get a good night's sleep, try a cup of Golden Milk. With the shorter days, it's easy to get a little extra, and much needed, sleep.
Diet
Consume warm foods and drinks, and avoid cold and raw foods. Favor hearty foods, such as soups, stews, pot roast, ham, poultry and gravies. Pears are in season now, so try Baked Pears with Star Anise. In the Northern Hemisphere, other foods to favor include citrus fruits, apricots, dates, figs, cranberries, cruciferous vegetables, winter squashes and other root vegetables, oats, barley, amaranth, rice, and fats, such as ghee, olive oil, sesame oil, as well as nuts and seeds.
Spices & Herbs
Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, turmeric, and black pepper will warm you up and aid digestion, so cook with these spices as much as possible. Support your immune system with astragalus extract or echinacea for acute infections. If you over-indulge and your digestion suffers, CCF tea is a famous Ayurvedic tea that combines cumin, coriander and fennel seeds, and that helps promote healthy digestion. I also have a Digest Tea with peppermint, fennel seeds, lemongrass, lavender, cinnamon chips, orange peel and ginger root.
Skin care
Wintry weather can chap your skin, and indoor heat can dry out your skin. Your skin can also look pale, because the body pulls warmth from the extremities and the skin to protect the core. To keep your skin healthy:
use a humidifier because it will put moisture into the air;
avoid overly hot baths and showers because they will dry out the skin;
exfoliate your skin once a week with a salt glow or sugar scrub to get that glow back in your skin;
moisturize with a rich, natural, cream-based moisturizer;
or perform Abhyanga (self-massage) with warm oil; and
lastly, stay hydrated.
Exercise
Exercise increases circulation and warms you up, and it may help you avoid the "winter blues". Researchers at Duke University observed that individuals who engage in regular exercise are less prone to depression, and that exercise can aid in alleviating symptoms for those already dealing with depression. So get moving! If it's very cold or windy outside, you may want to exercise indoors. Some indoor exercises include yoga (start with Sun Salutations to get circulation going), dance, Pilates, and weights. Hiking or walking might be enjoyable on clear, sunny days - just make sure to dress warmly.
Take care of yourself and enjoy the holidays!
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