Om Yoga Magazine — December 2017

om body

I

t’s official, the winter months are upon

on us. Below we have put together

five self-care tips that will enable you

to create habits in the darker months

that maintain your physical, emotional

and mental wellbeing.

Practice Daily Gratitude

As the dark mornings and evenings draw in,

it’s easy to wish them away – or at least wish

that you were somewhere far away. The winter

months are a time to reflect, before the spring

comes around and you can begin to renew.

By living in the present, you can find

gratitude in each moment. That can be

anything from taking the time to savour the

warmth of the extra blanket on your bed as

you wake up on a dark, cold morning, the

shade of a bright blue sky outdoors, or your

new cosy knitwear...the list is endless.

Take the time to consider the way that

each of these elements makes you feel,

physically and mentally. In time, you will

become attuned and aware to all of these

moments, becoming thankful for even the

smallest of things and experiencing the

feeling of contentment. Writing your daily

gratitude down, or saying it out loud helps

to affirm it too.

Maintain Nutrition

For many of us, winter is the time to hit

the carbs; the trouble is that most of these

carbs are often refined with fat and sugar

added to the mix. This is not only going to

wreak havoc on your insulin and serotonin

levels, it can also inhibit your immune

system – not ideal in the months that are

renowned for bringing pesky coughs and

colds along with them (not to mention

weight gain, which can have a long-lasting

impact on your self-esteem).

While we may want to reach for the

comfort food, it’s so important to maintain

your willpower and choose nutrient-rich

whole foods that will nourish your body.

There are so many nutritious, warming

dishes that can be created with seasonal

foods that will keep you happy and satisfied.

Check out the recipes in OM (starting on

page 98) for ideas.

Take Care of Your Skin

Self-care is unique. Small practices such

as dropping invigorating essential oils like

eucalyptus around your shower so the

scent engulfs you in the morning, or adding

warming oils such as black pepper to your

evening bath can give you an easy lift and

something your skin will love.

Be vigilant about products you use. Where

possible, ensure that you use natural and

organic, plant-based skincare, free from

preservatives and synthetic fragrances.

Our skin in our biggest organ, and what

we lavish on it enters our bodies, so using

natural oils and butters where possible will

provide a range of holistic benefits impacting

our energy levels and overall mood.

Practices that go alongside these products

such as skin brushing and self-massage

can also have a wider effect on your body’s

processes and mental wellbeing; it’s well worth

incorporating them into your daily routine.

Consider Your Posture

You’ve probably under-valued your posture a

lot. Slumping at a desk or staring down at your

smartphone all day can lead to niggles that

eventually result in a whole world of aches and

pains that require professional attention.

Not only can being aware of your posture

prevent these physical issues, but it can

vastly improve your mental state. Studies

have shown that good posture can also

help in maintaining a positive mental state,

as your cardiac output and pulse pressure

remain strong and cope better with stress.

Yoga helps enormously to improve your

posture, so adding some simple flows and

building on these will set you on the right track.

Embrace the Quiet

The winter months are a great time for

reflection: with this in mind, take the time to

incorporate some quiet moments into your

daily routine. This could take the form of

meditation, reading an inspirational book or

simply sitting with a cup of tea or a candle,

doing nothing at all.

These moments can become a break

from all of the noise that takes place in

our daily lives and forces us to clear our

heads, allowing us to live more creatively,

purposefully and to focus on what is truly

important.

By Martyn Pearson (steamcream.com)

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