There is a certain stillness to winter. Snow muffles sound, the darkness of night is lingers, and even the most outdoor enthusiast spends more time indoors out of the cold. After the flourish of activity that surrounds the holidays, it is a good time to pause and think about what you need to feel your best this winter. Looking at the season from an Ayurvedic perspective, the qualities are cold, dry, windy or mobile and expansive. Our modern minds may be disconnected to the rules of nature, but our bodies are not. This is why we experience dryness of skin and nasal passages, chapped lips, achy joints, and tend to experience more coughs and colds. What will keep us in balance with nature and also balance our nature is to incorporate things with the opposite qualities into our everyday life. In all aspects of life, think warmth, moisture, smoothness and grounding. Here are some tips for feeling your best this winter.
- Hydrate! Drink plenty of water. Warm or room temperature is best
- Eat more warm, cooked foods, soups and stews. Less cold, dry food.
- Eat plenty of good protein, meat, beans, nuts
- Add good fats; ghee, olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil. You can add these fats to your grains and soups, or use them more generously in your cooking
- Keep your sinuses from drying out by placing a small amount of sesame oil in your nostrils each morning and before bed. Place a small amount in your palm and with your little finger rub the oil on the inside of your nostril. Plug the opposite nostril and inhale, and repeat on the other side.
- Keep up your yoga practice! Yoga asanas hydrate the joints and tissues and bring heat to the body and meditation brings stillness and grounding to the mind
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