YOGA TIPS for Easing the Chill of Winter

With winter just around the corner, I figured it would be about good timing to post this.

YOGA TIPS for Easing the Chill of Winter
Anna Montage, Health and Wellness Editor

Extra Tips for Dressing Warmly

Legs are often neglected in our outdoor clothing. If you’re planning to be outside for more than a short while, it’s important to keep your legs protected from the cold and wind. Nylon athletic pants with zippers on the side can be easily slipped on over your regular pants and aren’t too expensive. If you live in a cold climate or spend a lot of time outdoors, it may be worth the investment to buy outer pants that also provide some extra insulation. A sporting goods store or outdoor store can help you with this.

In many climates, a fleece jacket provides plenty of warmth if you layer a wind-proof shell on top of it. Outdoor companies make specially treated fabrics that keep the wind at bay. You will be surprised at how warm this simple and comfortable combination will keep you! If it’s very cold outside, a warm hat and fleece neck gator or scarf are essential, otherwise your vital body heat may slip right out the top of your jacket

Brrrr! While the winter season brings fun outdoor sports, family gatherings and toasty fires, the chill of winter can really take a toll on your physical and even mental health. Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather than others, but everyone can benefit from some simple strategies to stay balanced and healthy during the chilly season.

Keep bundled up! It may seem obvious, but one of the best remedies for warding off the winter chills is dressing properly. Keeping your feet and head warm is an absolute must—whether you’re inside or outside. Don’t let fashion make you a slave to the cold! There’s plenty of attractive outdoor apparel that looks great and keeps you snuggly even in the chilliest of temperatures. Your shoes or boots are crucial to your warmth and comfort and are worth the investment for a top-quality brand. Don’t forget to make sure they are water-resistant as well! Wet feet will chill your whole body.

Keep munching on fresh fruits and veggies, but also add warming soups, teas and spices to your yoga diet. Warm soup on a cold winter day helps soothe the body and mind. It can also help you stay hydrated and nourished. Don’t neglect fresh raw fruits and vegetables, but try to accompany them with other foods that help to counteract the effects of winter, such as soups, casseroles and other cooked dishes.

Warm liquids also tend to make you feel full, helping ward off the tendency to eat too many sweets and other rich foods in the winter. For example, hot herb tea is another great way to stay warm and hydrated without adding too many calories. A little honey or other natural sweetener added to your tea can help stave off wintertime cravings for unhealthy sweets. Fresh juices, especially when jazzed up with some ginger or other warming spices, will speed up your metabolism and provide potent enzymes and antioxidants to help keep fatigue and sickness away. Check out Wai Lana’s Favorite Juices for recipe ideas.

In your cooking, focus on warming spices such as ginger, cumin, and cinnamon. The Indian spice blend garam masala is a tasty and very warming addition to many vegetable dishes. It can be used by itself or along with ginger, cumin, turmeric or other Indian spices.

Maintain a healthy weight by staying in balance and keeping warm. If your body becomes too imbalanced from the cold, you will crave rich, oily food to counteract the effects of the weather, thus sabotaging your weight loss or maintenance goals. The warming herbs and foods (along with warm clothing mentioned above) will help you avoid these health pitfalls. So stay warm with teas, soups and spices and you’ll enjoy the winter weather without gaining extra weight.

Get Plenty of Exercise! Don’t avoid the outdoors! Embrace the cold by dressing the way I describe above. By dressing properly, you can be comfortable outside in even the most frigid climates. It’s crucial for your physical and mental health to get plenty of outdoor time during the cold season. The crisp cold air will oxygenate your body and invigorate your mind and sense of well-being. A little sunshine (even through the clouds) helps to keep your biological clock in balance and produce necessary vitamin D for the body. Getting outdoors also helps stave off “cabin fever” from spending too much time indoors!

Practice Yoga. Yoga is the most ancient, time-tested method for keeping the body and mind healthy and balanced. Yoga brings fresh oxygen to your cells, helping keep your energy and spirits up. Yoga also helps improve muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga helps you stay in a peaceful state of mind so that you are happier and less affected by stress.

From: Wailana's Yoga Newsletter