The time of year has come for us to simply slow down and do less. That is correct, you heard me… In our northern hemisphere most of nature, save for the hardy ravens, moose, rabbits, lynx and bobcats are hibernating.
So why can’t we learn from nature to take it easy? You’ve heard the idiom ~ “less is more”! As you can all attest, our wintery season arrived far too early and much cold, heavy, damp weather. Given the transition into winter we need to be aware of a few things with regards to optimizing our self-care.
With the promise of more colder days ahead our bodies are governed by constitutions. In Ayurveda these constitutions are known as dosha’s. There are three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha— each are derived from the five elements. Also known as mind-body types, the doshas express unique blends of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. (More on this subject later, I promise 🙂 In relation to winter doshic qualities of Kapha are wet, fat, cold and heavy.
With fewer daylight hours, we should grant yourselves the luxury to sleep in more often. So it is okay if you only get up at 7am and let your body naturally reset and restore.
As a morning ritual, I invite you to try a warn oil self-massage, known as abhyanga. Simply, apply warm sesame oil to the entire body before you shower. Raw sesame oil is best for all constitutions during the winter because of its heating quality. The link below explains how this ritual can benefit your health and well-being.
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/lifestyle/self-oil-massage/
COLOR MY WORLD….In the north a lot of people wear black, white or gray as ‘winter colours’. Ayurveda suggests we swap the drab for brighter, warming colours like red, amber, gold and orange. These are said to help retain the auric/chi field, bridging it with the fire element for better digestion.
Did you know that more than half of the body’s heat is lost through the head? Both health systems, Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda encourages us to cover our heads and the back of the neck, whenever you venturing outside. I know it can be tough dealing with static hair and a flattened doo….so why not enjoy wearing a skull cap, your hood or a nice woolie toque? Besides, not only will your body stay warmer, there is less chance you will come down with a cold or flu.
Outdoor fun? Yes indeed, that is me donning the Russian cap, on a cold (-40c), last winter.
To learn more about Ayurveda ~ the sister science of Yoga contact me & I’d be happy to enlighten you! Namaste…