My Favorite Ways to Thrive Through the Winter Months
My Favorite Ways to Thrive Through the Winter Months
I am a self-declared sun seeker. Even as a young girl, I remember bundling up to sit outside and soak up winter sun rays on my face. There was even a time when my friend and I would spend time on my roof stretched out like two lazy cats soaking in winter sun beams, but that quickly ended when my mom caught wind of it through a neighbor…
I know my body thrives in warm, sunny climates.
But, there is something deeply nourishing about sinking into the winter season. Although it can feel like a season of hibernation, there is so much potent energy brewing beneath the surface.
Winter is the season of deep rejuvenation, rest, reflection and inward wisdom.
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The water element is the element of winter and we are reminded of our adaptability and shape-shifting as we navigate our journeys.
This winter more than ever feels like a time to restore and replenish the body on deep levels.
I’ve weaved some of favorite whole body lovin’ tools to support immune and nervous system support, along with enegy, vitality and boost of radiance.
Cheers to embracing all the seasons!
Sleep.
Sleep more, as much as you can in the winter!
Set the mood to turn into relaxation mode… Fill a diffuser with essential oils that you love and soothe your spirit. decorate your space with your favorite colors, welcome a plant like a Peace Lily, Spider Plant or Bamboo Palm into your space to help purify the bedroom air.
Don't skimp on this essential beauty and vital secret!
Emails, catching up on social media and all other computer tasks can wait until the morning.
Give yourself permission to rest for at least 7 hours in your sleep sanctuary! It’s precious time to restore.
Eliminate television and other electronics, including your phone. Keep an good ol’ fashioned battery operated alarm clock on your nightstand instead of a phone.
Our brains are operating in overdrive mode, and sleep time is a necessity for the brain and body to restore themselves. Giving them a break from blue light exposure and WiFi is a supportive whole body tool.
How do you want to feel in your sleep sanctuary? Create MORE of it!
Nourish your System
Winter invites in to tonify the body, to love up the adrenals, soothe the nervous system and boost the immune system.
Adaptogens do just that.. They truly make our sytems more adaptable and bring us back into a stabilized and nourished state.
Adaptogens include some roots and mushrooms like ashwaganda, reishi, chaga, milky oat tops, astragalus, rhodiola, ginseng, kava kava. They meet our bodies, listen to where they are needed, then strengthen and tone.
One of my favorite adaptogenic tea that I love to sip through the winter is :Shroom Chai Tea from Turn to Nature. Georgia blends together herbs with warming cinnamon, ginger and fennel to support the digestive system.
A note from her :‘I feel that Wild Gathered ingredients allow you to embody the adaptability that is needed to survive out in nature. Mushrooms have the added effect of allowing you to feel fully connected to the network of mycelium just beneath the forest floor. Gifting you the embodiment of a deep connection to the outside world. Maitake, and other adaptogenic mushrooms, have polysaccharides (complex starches) that stimulate an immune response from your body. This is a trail run for your body, allowing it to adapt and become smarter when fighting off true invading pathogens such as the common cold. Astragalus is a beautiful root that builds up a depleted immune system. Oat Tops supports in nourishing nervous system. The spices are warming, pungent, and beautiful in keeping our spirits high and protected.’
Support your Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D plays major roles in:
Immune function
Heart health
Joint health
Manages blood pressure
Oral health
Mental health (as low levels are linked to depression and anxiety)
Digestive health
Supports weight management
Regulates absorption of calcium and maintains levels of phosphorus (essential for development in babes)
Ways to increase your Vitamin D levels:
Eat fatty, cold-water fish like salmon and sardines.
Plant-based? No problem.. Mushrooms help boost our supply too!
Get out in the sun (yes, even in these cold months)!! It rejuvenates the body
Consider supplementation- Thorne Research is one of my favorite companies to source.
Light Therapy
The light found in a far infrared sauna is far infrared light, a type of invisible light located below the optical color red in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Far infrared light is used to purify polluted air, keep newborn babies warm in hospitals, promote growth in plants and more.
Enter in the many benefits far infrared light offers in sauna sessions:
Increased blood circulation
Improved cardiovascular functioning
Strengthened immunity
Relief of headaches, muscle pain and joint stiffness
Deep cellular detoxification
Improved sleep quality
Decreased stress levels in the body
Learn more about the benefits of chromotherapy in a sauna session here:
http://www.sunshinekates.com/blog/chromotherapy-sauna-benefits-color-therapy-explained
Make Room for Play and Movement!
Invite your inner child out to play! Play naturally boosts the immune system, burns calories, reduces your stress hormones (e.g cortisol and adrenaline), improves cardiac health, builds confidence and connection. It’s a form of mindful meditation, truly embracing the moment. Think about a time when you watch children play. They are immersed in the moment. “They live in the moment. There doesn’t have to be a final goal and they play for the sake of play. The truth is, play is being joyfully immersed in the moment, and as adults, we rarely do that.” -Catherine Tamis-LeMonda , Professor of Applied Psychology.
Nourishing Food for the Gut, the Brain and the Plate
I hear it over and over again around this time of year 'I'm on a detox cleanse'.
Yes, it is a wonderful time to move away from the overindulgence of the holiday season. But please remember this, DON'T DEPRIVE AND STARVE YOURSELF!
During the winter, your body needs and craves heartier foods rich in high quality protein and essential fatty acids. You need food to maintain immune function, hormonal balance and energy.
Take the time to nourish your body through warming soups and stews. Start your day with a boost of protein through eggs or a superfood smoothie. Challenge yourself and see how many colors you can incorporate through veggies and fruits through the day.
It is so rewarding to take the extra time to prepare your own nourishment.
One of my favorite and favorite soup recipes to brighten dark nights and nourish the body is Carrot Ginger Soup
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 large onion
2-inch piece of fresh ginger
5 cups carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled
5 cups vegetable stock or bone broth (if using packaged stock, opt for pure ingredients such as Pacific Brand). Bone Broth is loaded with glycinate, which supports both the nervous system and sleep support!
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon cumin
Himalayan Salt
1 can full-fat coconut milk (I love Native Forest, BPA Free)
Cilantro, to garnish
Avocado, and/or Pumpkin seeds to garnish
Method
Melt coconut oil over medium heat in large soup pot.
Once liquified, add onion and ginger. Saute about 10-15 minutes, until onion is tender.
Add carrots and garlic and saute for another 10 minutes You can always add more coconut oil to pot if it becomes too dry. Pour in stock. Add cinnamon and cumin. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the vegetables are quite tender (about 25 minutes). Mix the coconut milk in the last few moments of cooking time. Remove from heat and let the soup cool slightly.
Use an immersion blender or place the soup in a blender or food processor, puree until smooth and creamy.
Add additional salt or flavor to taste.
Garnish with cilantro and sliced avocado before serving. This boosts the support to naturally detox the body.
What are your favorite ways to THRIVE during the winter months?!