Recently, in one of early morning classes, we started talking about the dreariness of winter and how it was starting to get to us. Ugh! It is a feeling of wanting to hibernate and not emerge until the weather is nice again! Katherine May puts it well, in her article which inspired this post, when she states “But by early February, I’m sagging. Tired, hungry and sick of the dark, my motivation has run out…” We, in the Northeast, can relate!
So, let’s looks at it from another perspective. The Chopra center wrote a post called 5 Reasons Winter is Good for You. I love the idea of looking at this season as a time for restoring health and vitality. A time to conserve energy and use that energy to pamper and nurture our Self mentally, physically and spiritually.
I thought about some of the things I do to keep uplifted and motivated, and I wanted to share them with you:
First and foremost, exercise. Most of you reading this post are already avid fitness/yoga studio patrons. Bravo! It really helps keep those winter blues at bay. I highly recommend adding a gentle, yin and/or restorative yoga class to your schedule. It is a great way to release and relax the body while practicing quiet and stillness. I also recommend adding cardio, at least two to three times a week. Dancing is my favorite, however walking and spin are also great options. Cardio helps keep our heart muscle strong and it releases natural endorphins, which is our bodies natural Prozac (with no adverse side effects!).
Second, I relish warm, wholesome and nutritious foods that warm my insides during those cold days. One of my favorites is hot whole grain oatmeal cereal. I add lite warm coconut milk, a touch of brown sugar, ground cinnamon and clove (a must!), plus I add walnuts, almond slivers, unsweetened coconut flakes, ground flax seed, and sometimes bananas. I make it a point to sit down, so I can savor every bite. It is a warm hug in a bowl!
Another heavenly treat are my hot baths. Listen, I don’t have one of those jacuzzi tubs, a regular tub works just fine. I set up the diffuser first with my favorite essential oil and then light candles. I run the hot water and add Dead Sea Salt which has eight different minerals and comes directly from Israel. It is extremely therapeutic. I also add a cup of baking soda, so my skin doesn’t dry out and Doctor Teal’s Forming Bath with Lavendar. I turn on my favorite audio book and only God knows how long this retreat is going to be. There is no timeline.
Lastly, I love listening to audio books. Recently I went through an Agatha Christine revival. It was so fun listening to her crime mysteries. I could listen to it while I was cooking, cleaning, bathing and even in my car while I was chauffeuring the kids around. The way she uses language is so incredibly eloquent and articulate, it was truly inspiring. Then I had to listen to her life story which was even more inspiring.
Winter invites us to pause and slow down. As we go with the flow, it helps us remember that every season has its place. Winter is the perfect opportunity for humans to hibernate and restore with exercising, soaking, relishing, and listening. When the time comes for longer, warmer days we will be ready to get moving again!