Winter - A Season of Restoration, Rest & Reflection

When we live in harmony with the seasons and adjust ourselves and our lifestyles accordingly, we are honoring our whole self by bringing more balance to the body, mind, spirit and soul. By adjusting our habits, from what we wear, eat, when we wake up, go to sleep to the type of activities we engage in according to the weather and the environment will help keep us healthy throughout the year and maintain robust immune and organ systems that are strong enough to ward off the flu and other diseases.

Harmonizing with the seasons will help the body stay healthy and prepared for each succeeding season. The season of winter should be a time of renewal and nourishment. Winter is associated with the kidneys, ears, and bones. During this winter season, let us focus on Restoration, Rest & Reflection:

Restoration: Winter is a time to restore our energy reserves with nourishing foods to maintain both the physical and spiritual health of the body. In traditional Chinese Medicine, the physical body best absorbs nutrients during the cold winter months, so the winter is considered a time for healing. Eating foods that naturally grow during this season is optimal, for example winter squash, potatoes, root vegetables, winter greens, cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms. Warming foods such as soups and broths are also highly recommended to nourish yin energy. Foods that benefit the kidneys include black beans, kidney beans, walnuts, dark leafy greens, and black sesame seeds.

Rest: Sleep is said to be a time for our bodies and cognitive function to repair, rejuvenate and restore, this is why some animals hibernate during the winter months. Sleep is also said to be the time when structural and organizational changes in the brain take place. Rest is also important for revitalizing your whole body but more importantly the kidneys.

Circadian Rhythm: Your circadian rhythm is essentially your body’s internal clock. It’s what helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle, as well as other bodily functions like hunger and body temperature. Your circadian rhythm is influenced by a variety of factors, including light exposure, physical activity, and even the foods you eat. 

During the winter months, your circadian rhythm can be thrown off by a number of factors. For one, the shorter days mean less exposure to natural light, which can disrupt your body’s internal clock. Additionally, the colder temperatures can make it harder to get outside and exercise, which can also impact your circadian rhythm. Make sure that you are moving adequately even if you have to do it indoors.

Reflection: The stillness in the winter months allows us to hear the world more clearly and encourages us to slow down. It is also a very good time to turn inward and spend some time reflecting on the previous year. Practices like tai chi, qi gong and restorative yoga can be helpful ways to do this. These practices help us relax the mind, calm the emotions and to connect to our inner selves while supporting the kidney energy.

You can also start a journaling practice; you can purchase a journal designed for reflection or you can just get an inexpensive notebook. In the evening, as part of my nighttime routine, I write down reflections from the day, things I am grateful for and other things I would like to focus on in my dream state. This is another amazing way to start bringing focus to the good things in your life as well as working on manifesting the things that you would like.

So during this winter season I will be Restoring, Resting and Reflecting....be sure to follow along for tips and motivation.