Staying Healthy Through The Seasons

As we move deeper into winter, our bodies and minds need different things than what nourished us in previous seasons. It’s important to understand how winter affects us and what will nourish us. When we can tune into what our external environment is asking of us, we can easily support our internal systems to find more balance and harmony. 

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It’s essential to tune into the wisdom of the season so that you can respond to what arises instead of reacting. When we react we tend to cause chaos in ourselves, our families, and our environments. This can lead to feeling imbalanced, overwhelmed, drained, and even sick, When we can instead respond with awareness and wisdom, we are able to create an internal and external experience of peace, health, and wellbeing that invites in even more love, joy, and connection. 


What opportunities does this season offer? This time of year asks us to go deep within the self. The shortened days invite us to seek replenishment and rest. The lower temperatures ask us to protect and nourish ourselves in healthy ways. The close of the calendar year invites us to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and where we still have work to do. The holidays encourage us to be present with gratitude, joy, and celebration. It’s time for us to be aware of and attuned with our senses. 


If you think about it, winter is a time to grow deep roots into the ground. It’s also a time of shedding and cleansing. This is an essential moment for you to look within and see where you can grow your roots down, what you can release in order to foster your expansion, and where can you bring in joy and celebration, because that’s what life is truly about.


As we move into the holiday season where the focus is often on others, I encourage you to keep your commitment to your own wellbeing. You are your greatest investment. If you take the time and action to nurture your own growth and wellbeing, you will be more likely to be a positive force in the lives of your family, friends, and coworkers during the holiday season and moving into the new year. 


Here are some tips that I personally use during winter in order to stay grounded and focused on my personal growth and to support my emotional and physical balance:

• Ingest the right nutrients - Ayurvedic practice suggests avoiding raw foods in winter, as they can increase the element of air, which is already overabundant during this season. Choose instead warm and hearty foods as long as they fit with your dietary needs. I recommend eating a lot of root vegetables, which encourages the sense of being grounded and promotes emotional balance as well as physical nourishment. Hot soup not only provides liquids which are important for health, it’s one of the most comforting and nurturing foods. Drinking tea can be another easy way to get fluids, herbal healing support, and that feeling of internal warmth and comfort.  

• Invest in healing - Whether its regular body work like massage or acupuncture, committing to therapy on a regular basis, or signing up for a coaching program, this is the time to invest in yourself. Your greatest gift to the world is you as your highest version. We all need support and guidance to move into the space of our highest selves, so give that gift to yourself. Take advantage of this moment in the season which supports the process of looking within, cleansing old limiting beliefs and patterns, and establishing a healthy foundation to grow into the best version of you. This is the perfect time to identify and release what has been holding you back in order to start 2017 with the best you have to offer. Committing to healing is a gift not only to yourself, but to everyone and everything else in your life too!

• Stick to your self-care routine (or start one!) - I know it’s a busy time, but it only takes 5 minutes to become mindful and to ground. If you are really committed to finding emotional and physical balance and wellbeing, you can commit to at least 5 minutes - no excuses! There are a ton of ways to do self-care, so find the ones that are most effective and practical for you. Spending a few minutes journaling and setting your intentions as you drink your morning coffee can improve your whole day. Taking 10 deep breaths can help you anywhere, anytime. Schedule in time for a yoga class or trip to the gym. Tell your family you need 30 minutes to yourself, and take a bath with epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils to relax and rejuvenate. A lot of people say, “Well I just don’t have the time.” First of all, we make the time for what we think is important - so make yourself a priority! Secondly, the paradox is that when we take time out of our day to relax and rejuvenate, the rest of our time ends up being more productive. Try it and see for yourself! 

• Write a daily gratitude list - This is so simple and yet so effective. Start and end your day with gratitude. You can do it in your head, but I think it’s best to write it down, preferably in a little journal dedicated just to that - that way when you are feeling down you have a whole book about why your life is amazing! The things on your gratitude list don’t even have to be huge things. Some days I write down that I’m grateful for the chai latte I treated myself to, or that I took the time to make my bed with fresh sheets. The more you tune into gratitude, the less room there is in your mind and heart for fear, worry or disappointment. Don’t take my word for it - try it for yourself, and see how your life changes. Not only is this a great habit in all times of year, it gets you truly connected to the spirit of the holiday season, and invites in a lot more joy and celebration into your life. 

Did I miss any tips and techniques that you swear by? Do you need any recommendations for anything I mentioned? I’d love to hear from you. Let me know how this season is shaping up for you, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions - I’m here to support you through this season and beyond!


Blessings,
Katya