Winter hibernation

Winter is the time for hibernating.
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No matter your prakruti, or unique constitution, we all can feel the effects of the winter season. With shorter days and less access to the sun, winter embodies kapha qualities; cold, heavy, slow, liquid. It is important to consider how we are managing our daily routine to balance the influence these qualities may have on our health. As we are in the thick of the holiday season, let’s add some light to our winter days!

1. Immune System: Our immune systems can become weak during the winter months as the cold sets in. Make sure to keep up with herbs and vitamins that support your immune system, like our old friend Vitamin C and D! Herbs such as tulsi or chyavanprash blends are excellent for supporting not only our immune, but also our respiratory systems. 
2. Physical movement. Do not forget to move your body! Under all these thick clothes and warm blankets, the kapha qualities of winter can make us stagnant. Try a brisk walk around the block or do three morning Sun Salutations. Moving the body can increase movement in our lymphatic system and promote proper flow of blood circulation. 
3. Warming, nourishing meals. Winter is a time to buck up our bodies and enforce nourishment. Root veggies are an excellent choice. Nourishing soups are another great option for winter days. Offering a healthy dose of minerals, cooked foods make it easy on our bodies to process and assimilate. That allows for more energy to be dispersed to keeping our bodies warm and immune system strong. 

I like to bake this simple veggie recipe on cold days: 

Set oven to 425 degrees. Rinse and cut: 2 white potatoes, 2 sweet potatoes, 2 broccoli heads, 3 peeled red beets, 3 carrots, large handful of brussel sprouts halved, 8 cloves of unpeeled garlic, drizzle olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Bake for 1 hour, stirring vegetables every 15 minutes until evenly roasted.

Wishing you all an amazing holiday season and happy new year!