Now, as we pass through the Autumn Equinox and head towards Winter Solstice the darkest night of the year; is the time to go deep inside. Light a candle, make some tea, sit in the dark and contemplate your life. Where have you been these last 10 months? Where are you going this next year?
It’s a fertile time to rejuvenate and replenish yourself before the holidays. Slow down, sleep more when you can, nourish yourself with homemade soups and stews and bring warm tea with you as you venture out into the world. Even if you live in a warm climate, it’s important to slow down and honor your body’s natural rhythms throughout winter. Like bears in the wild, it’s time to hibernate. Ever wonder why we are so prone to sickness this time of year? Sure it has a lot to do with being inside with windows shut tight against fresh clean icy air, but it’s also because we get so far out of balance with food, drink and social calendars. Add in the enhanced Vata irritation of wind and cold and we find our lungs are particularly at risk for infections.
So here are my top 10 ways to stay physically and emotionally well this winter~plus a bonus tip.
1. Have your heating and air ducts cleaned professionally. Love that cozy smell of the furnace the first time it kicks on for the year? Me too~until I found out that I was smelling dust, mold, mildew and dead insects. Give your lungs a break and make the investment to have your ducts sucked clean.
2. Increase your water intake. Sure it’s easy to stay hydrated when we’re working out and aware of the summer heat; but as winter comes, we forget that our bodies need adequate water to guard against illness and operate at maximum efficiency. Dehydration is to blame for small cracks inside our nose that allow germs to enter easily, so drink up.
3. Natural germ fighting Vitamin D isn’t being produced in our bodies if we live in the Northern Hemisphere like it is in the warmer months and our immune systems naturally drop. Studies have shown that supplementing with Vitamin D is an immune booster. Get some sunshine on your body. If you can find a wind blocked area on a warm, sunny winter day, spend some time with minimal clothing on and get a few minutes of natural sunlight on your body.
4. Eat with the season. Now is the time to gravitate towards warmer foods, suddenly raw, cold salads have lost their appeal. Make soup, stew, roasted vegetables and warm meals with foods naturally in season. Squash and root vegetables are perfect for this time of year; both rich in antioxidants and lush in color for our bored winter eyes. If you’re a raw foodist, add warmth by using spices and eating more dehydrated foods.
5. Purify your inside air. As we’ve become more energy efficient in our home building, we’ve created sealed environments. While great on energy savings, those lost drafts helped to purify our inside air. Invest in an air purifier if you can, and if you can’t; open your windows once a day to let in some fresh air. If you work from home, consider doing this during the heat of the day when the sun is out and the temperature is at it’s highest. Another great way to do this is to throw open your bedroom windows while you make your bed in the am, and then close them. All it takes are a few seconds to flood any room with fresh air.
6. Dry brush your skin before you shower. Skin is the #1 detox organ and since we don’t sweat as much throughout the winter months, our bodies could use the extra help. Even if you do sweat regularly, boost your immune system with a good brushing before your morning shower.
7. Change your sheets more often. Dry skin, furnace cranking and closed windows ~ need I say more? I’ll spare you from those magnified photos of bed sheets.
8. Take a hint from the early darkness and stay close to home. Try to get your workouts in early or at lunchtime vs. after work. Once the winter night settles in, our primal inner rhythm begs for the warmth of hearth and home. Spend your evenings at home eating warm, home cooked meals; read more, snuggle with loved ones, and enjoy movies.
9. Enter the cave. Ancestral teachings speak of going into the cave to reflect on the year behind us and recharge for the year ahead. Our society moves so quickly these days, take advantage of the cold and justify staying home more. Not only will you save money, but you deepen your relationships with loved ones when you spend quality time together in your own home. Single? Take this quality time for yourself, as it will serve to deepen your own well and you’ll have more to give when love does arrive. Not sure how to be alone? See How to be alone.
10. Many cultures believe that creativity keeps our energy flowing and provides radiant health. Dance, sing, paint, cook, write, or rearrange the furniture. Refrain from going comatose in front of the television. Not only does it lower your metabolism, but it wastes your creative time~and your life.
*** And my bonus tip? Make more love. Not only will it increase your circulation (as well as boosting lymphatic and immune systems), it elevates your mood, and if you go to bed early enough, provides for your evening entertainment. 
xo
~all photos from freedigitalphotos.net Woman by Michal Marcol, cave by Nikolay, fire by Nikolay
[...] like to be in the present moment? Was it my attention to the senses that led me to this spot of bliss? What happens if throughout our days we stop and silently ask ourselves: “What do i smell [...]
Thanks for this:) I like your bonus tip;) and 2nd 1.