holidays, winter + onward
I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.
Maya Angelou
Do you find yourself anxiously awaiting a yearly flu shot in anticipation of winter? Do you stock up on tissues and vitamins this time of year? Would you believe me if I said it might not have to be this way?
Part of the reason I love a mostly natural approach to medicine – with Western intervention when absolutely necessary in emergencies – is because it focuses on prevention.
Instead of putting a bandage on the situation by suppressing symptoms with prescriptions, holistic practices like Ayurveda gets to the root cause. The aim is to figure out where and why the problem is arising, relieve the issue completely if possible, and continue to take actions to help prevent future ailments.
This of course is easier said than done, even more so if you are constantly around people for your job [i.e. yoga instructor], surrounded by germ-happy children [dear parents and teachers – you are amazing], or simply if you live in a crowded city [hello NYC subways].
There are, however, measures we can take – if we choose – to keep our minds and immune systems as healthy as possible year-round, especially during the holidays and colder months [prone to stress on the physical and mental bodies].
So… what can we do? Consider these tips that help me stay as well as I can throughout the year:
- Meditate. Whether it is 30 seconds or 30 minutes – give it a shot. I have been loving Tara Brach’s guided meditations recently. To entice you further, Dr. John Douillard explains, “According to Ayurveda, meditation disarms this protective nervous system by increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is the body’s repairing nervous system. This enhances self-awareness of the painful area on both a physical, mental and even emotional level. Once the body has become fully aware of the painful area as a problem, the body’s natural pharmacy can kick in and help resolve the pain.”
- Yoga. Whether it is 5 minutes or 50 minutes, whether a video class at home or my Costa Rica retreat [come!] – try it out. Restorative yoga is incredibly calming during stressful times, and working up a little sweat is a great way get the blood flowing throughout the body – especially if you feel physically [or mentally] stuck. Try Wanderlust’s 21-day yoga challenge with one of my excellent teachers, Schuyler Grant, for extra motivation.
- Rest + sleep. I realize this is challenging amongst holiday shindigs and work/life balance, although please consider how important this is to our physical and mental wellbeing. Take a 10-20 minute nap after lunch on the left side of the body to help promote digestion for a quick pick-me-up. Wake up easily – even if it is with an alarm clock – to begin the day with you Selves and not in anticipation of a pending to-do list [come to Mindful Mornings to learn more about how to begin your day in a nourishing way].
- More time with friends than in front of a screen. Enjoy each other, vis-a-vis. The holidays are not about people pleasing with gifts and treats [although this also extremely enjoyable]. If anything, it is a time to spend time with loved ones just as you are – no gifts or wine or cookies required. This is just as wholesome as a big bowl of veggies. Check out more year-round stress-relieving tips like this from Chopra Center.
- More water than booze. I love myself a holiday cocktail or glass of vino, as long as it doesn’t make me feel like garbage the next morning. Instead of guzzling beverages at gatherings, I prefer to check in with myself to see if I even want something, take my time deciding, and nurse it if I do end up having a drink [whether or not is is alcohol]. Before I decide if I want another, I will drink water or enjoy whatever food/company is available, and go from there. Take your time, savor the beverage and the eats and the moments alike.
- Eat as seasonally as possible. Produce is aligned with the season in a way that wonderfully serves our bodies in accordance with the qualities of that time of year [i.e. grounding, warming, hearty root veggies during cold, dry winter months]. Experiment with seasonal eating as best you can based on your location and whatever is available to you. Contact me for inspiration and support.
- More clean eats than treats. This is not about deprivation, just add in more whole foods to mitigate over-doing it on sugar-infested treats. When we deprive, we typically want more, sending our body into stress-mode initially, and adding more stress to the system with processed ingredients. Take it one day at a time, enjoy whole clean foods [mostly plants] to fuel the body, consider Ayurvedic food combining tips like these, and enjoy the occasional holiday dessert. Perhaps even try a few cleaner sweets, like the ones from my Goddess Brunch ebook [free!].
I also found these 11 tips to ward off seasonal colds incredibly informative from Ayurvedic practitioner Vaidya Mishra on staying well during the colder months and holiday season.
In the post, Vaidya writes, “Stress, in the big picture, is the constant immunity-lowering factor. You can lead the ideal Ayurvedic lifestyle, but if your days run high on stress, nothing will help! It is key to make time to de-stress through yoga, or meditation, or a walk in nature. You will increase your productivity and joy at work!”
Per Maya Angelou’s beautiful words of wisdom – we can work hard, but it is it not mostly important to enjoy this life and live it fully? And if we are to live life fully, is it not imperative to take good care of our Selves [and each other]?
What do you do to stay well and stress-free year-round, and during the holiday times?
Read the full newsletter for healthy holiday recipes, wellness happenings, good tunes and more.
Photo: still shot from Grant Henry Media‘s Letters From A Yogi video.
No Comments