Autumnal Transition Into Winter Tips
Life feeling a little heavy lately? Has it been tougher to ward off colds? If so, you're in good company.
Fall is a time for turning inward and shedding what we no longer need. This introspection can sometimes lead to feelings of sadness, heaviness or being stuck, which can make it tough for the body to function efficiently and fight off those viruses and bacteria.
The good news is, Autumn is a great season to let that stuff go! In Chinese medicine, Fall is the season of the lung and large intestine, which means that it is an optimal time to let in clean, life-sustaining air and eliminate things that are no longer beneficial to our body.
Meditation can help give us the time and attention we need to make that discernment and get the body functioning optimally again. Eating in-season food will help keep us aligned and balanced too.
Here are some tips:
- Incorporate more aromatic herbs and spices like garlic, ginger, cayenne and horseradish into your diet to help open your nose and breath deep.
Eat in-season vegetables as often as possible; squash, pumpkin, turnip, sweet potato, apples, and pears to name a few. - Focus on your breathing while exercising. This is inherent in yoga and qi gong, but make sure you're moving with your breath and breathing fully during whatever exercise you choose. Even when walking around or sitting at a desk, make sure you're filling your lungs fully with air so that your abdomen rises and falls with each breath.
- Meditation can be a useful tool to help us recognize what is blocking us from feeling our best and how to move it along or let it go. Here are some helpful links to guided meditations and lectures:
https://chopracentermeditation.com/ Oprah and Deepak Chopra are starting a new series of guided meditations on October 31 focusing specifically on getting "un-stuck".
https://www.udemy.com/awaken-your-heart-creativity-wisdom-with-tara-brach/?couponCode=TARAEL90&utm_source=Tara%20Brach%20-%20Contacts&utm_campaign=f2749a728e-Udemy&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74c7b6ae48-f2749a728e-320924461 Tara Brach is offering a new lecture series with guided meditation at a 90% discount before November 2. It is on-demand so you can access them whenever you want.
https://www.headspace.com/ Headspace is a handy guided mediation app with options for sitting, walking, commuting and eating meditations.
These are just a few inexpensive options that I know about, there are so many more ways to get into mediation and connect back to yourself, please don't limit yourself to just these. - Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are great ways to address specific ailments or patterns that are keeping you from feeling your best. Come on in for a treatment to discuss your specific concerns.
It is a great time to connect back with yourself and allow your bodies wisdom to guide you back to health. Let's take advantage of it! As always;
Whatever your injury, Chinese medicine advocates immediate treatment. Treat minor problems promptly and they are much less likely to develop into larger, chronic conditions.
