enduring winter
Winter is a quiet, internal time when life retreats to the depths and receives nourishment in preparation for the more active, warmer months ahead. As the season progresses, the soft blanket of snow melts to sustain life below, transforming the cold and damp into an explosion of green leaves, sprouts, flowers, moss, and mushrooms in spring time.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the watery winter season is attributed to the the kidneys, which are the source of Yin and Yang and house our willpower. In this season of storage and conservation, where we protect our precious resources - mainly our Yang, the warmth of the body - in preparation for the rest of the year.
Below are a few TCM-inspired strategies to help you endure the cold season and keep warm this winter.
There’s no bad weather, just bad clothes. I learned this phrase in Canada and I cringe a little every time I hear it, but it’s 100% true. Good gear makes all the difference! Keep your neck, back, ankles and feet warm to support a resilient immune system.
Eat warm foods. Warming, nutritious, easy-to-digest foods are ideal for winter. Soups, stews, and root vegetables like turnips, carrots, and potatoes, work well in the winter diet. Generous usage of garlic, onions, ginger, hot peppers, and cinnamon warms your meals and your body.
Hop in the sauna (blanket). Deep, penetrating heat drives out cold and helps manage aches and pains while also fortifying your immune system. Recently, I rented a Heat Healer infrared sauna blanket from a friend who is travelling for a year, and I’ve been spending 30-60 minutes 1-3x/week warming my bones inside the blanket. Highly recommended for workout recovery or folks who deal with chronic pain that’s worse with cold, damp weather. It’s a game changer!
Sleep more. Nature encourages us to rest more in winter, with TCM recommending we head to bed early and wake up with the sunrise. Instead of binge-watching Netflix, try turning in around 9pm a few days a week and see how you feel.
Move gently. Balance more intensive forms of exercise like walking, running, swimming, and weight lifting with yoga, Qigong, or Tai Chi to avoid exhausting yourself. In winter, you build reserves for the rest of the year, so focus on maintaining mobility and strength in your workouts versus increasing intensity. Exercise indoors when possible.
Connect with the beauty of being alive. It’s the season of bright white snow, twinkling lights, delicious warm drinks, nourishing foods, and staying cozy. What makes life beautiful for you? Maybe it’s art, music, learning, or play. Bring the light back into your everyday life by surrounding yourself with the things you love.
Reflection questions:
How are you keeping warm and cultivating strength in this cold, quiet, internal moment?
How are you fortifying yourself in preparation for the upcoming seasons?
How are you keeping the flame of hope and joy alive as we move towards spring?
