So, winter is well and truly upon us and how it feels so good.

It’s strange this feeling; about the winter.

The newspapers seem to be lying, again.

Winter is lovely.

I figure those people that crossed paths with me were right.

Health and happiness is born within.

So, on that note;

It’s been a pleasure.

Thanks to your wintry ways!

In case you’re wonder why my outpour is so homely, warmly and lovely, it’s becuase I feel so incredibly honoured to have been given some powerful and professional advice from some of the happiest people I know.  And that advice has helped my winter to remain positive and high in vital energy.

Before I merged with the dark season, the light and happy guys shared some tips with me on how to maintain high energy levels, and likewise, good health, throughout the winter.

So, just like a fractal, I’d like to spread these wisdom’s with you.

Here’s where we started…..

A yogi

Drink a rasayana tea (it’s an ayurvedic tea made of several spices). The one I like is made of ginger, cloves, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Take two tablespoons of each and two litres of water and boil it all down for one hour. You’ll be left with a concentrate of it which can last for a couple of days. If you heat it up with lime and honey and drink it, it will warm up your whole system.

Do some pranayama (breath control). It’s a great practice and there’s many types you can do. It helps to improve your mental, physical and spiritual practice. I personally like Bhastrika – the alternate nostril breathing – in the morning to wake me up.

Doing a yoga practice is of course a great way to warm up the body.

But the most important thing is to keep your heart warm. If your heart is warm, the whole body gets nourished. Give love or serve others and you’ll keep the energy levels of your heart at the best which in turn will balance the physical body levels.

 

An Iron Man devotee

Humour always gets you out of trouble 🙂

 

A Dietician

My number one tip is to eat a healthy diet. Avoid too many carbohydrates and sugar containing foods. These will spike your blood sugar and will come crashing down. You may feel more energised initially, but in the long run, can leave you lethargic and fatigued.

In the winter we can crave comfort foods, so avoid that and keep up exercise even if you have less energy to exercise – keep going.

 

A friend from down the street

Sauna, sports and snowy walks.

 

A climber

Eat hearty foods such as meat, beetroot and dark green vegetables to help nourish the blood.

Have regular exercise even when it’s dark and cold. It’s easy to find some inspiration for a ten minute workout to get the blood pumping and feel good. I use a seven minute workout app on my phone which is wonderful.

Winter can be a time of clear, crisp, cold days. Wrap up warm and get outside for fresh air and sunshine. This could be anything from a walk along the cost, in the hills, or just around your local park.

Get the right gear. Winter is rubbish if you’re cold and wet but there’s no need to do that. Buy waterproofs and warm clothes. That way the commute to work (or wherever you are going) can still be pleasant enough, even if you don’t want to rely on cars or public transport.

 

A dancer and yoga teacher

In the winter, diet is especially important and making sure you’re hydrated with lemon water since we tend to feel thirsty from the cold.

If you’re feeling any gloomy emotional symptoms you may want to try a vitamin D supplement. I didn’t realise I was deficient in vitamin D during the winter months until my doctor explained it to me. It really used to affect my mood and energy levels.

These days I become more in tune to a yin yoga practice with candles and heat when I practice. It helps me to relax and feel very cozy.

 

A healer

The tips I would offer could actually be applied all year round. And I would point out the obvious in that energy is something we have the ability to control.

Sleep is important. Maintain a regular schedule of bedtime and wake time so your rhythm isn’t responsible for fatigue. Minimum recommended sleep time is seven hours, max nine. No screens of any kind one hour before bed.

I’d also recommend mindfulness meditation before bed, like watching the breath. You can also incorporate a gratitude practice to reflect on your day and what you’re grateful for. At the least, be grateful for having an easy, calm breath, something we take for granted.

Buy an alarm built with a light designed to simulate the rising of the sun. Further, use gentle alarm sounds to bring you peacefully and not suddenly out of sleep; in the iPhone, there’s a function called Bedtime that keeps you accountable for your sleep schedule, and it also has an alarm that sounds like the bird song, which I absolutely love.

Exercise is obvious. In the morning, either do yoga to facilitate energy flow, or high intensity cardio before eating to get your metabolism going; or strength training after a meal.

Try meditation in the morning; 10-30 minutes at a minimum.

 

Anneka

I must say, I have a great reputation for eating well, especially during the winter where the days are short and the light is dim. So, it makes perfect sense to share a website where equally, the food is done well. There are plenty of vegan and veggie options in there too. https://cuisinicity.com/recipes/

With that list of healthy recipes, I’m fairly confident that your tummies will be well fed, your mind will feel uplifted and your spirit will feel the energetic vibration of its highest order.

Keep warm, well fed, well loved and well in virtue <3

 

The pharmacy

Since our friends and community have covered the most part by sharing their love, we’d just like to add that we are always here, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, with a stock pile of medications, teas, lotions and plenty of pick me up shower and bubble bath products to keep you warm, healthy, rejuvenated and clean across the winter months.

We’re also keen on promoting the very best in health and wellness, and for that, we’d be happy to talk to you about your health needs, any day of the week. You can find us through our blog, our website or simply by walking through our pharmacy doors.

We’ll be waiting here with our warming arms and smiles open.

With love, Anneka and Teresa