Booooo it’s been cold in Melbourne lately! If you have never used a mantra before, this is the one you may want to start practicing with. Warming up in winter is not luxury, it’s a necessity. And that’s not just your mum rambling here. Warming up will do good to your body AND to your mind. But that’s not all, last Saturday, we have just passed the longest night (or shortest day) of the year, the Winter Solstice. What does this mean? The Winter Solstice is a time of transition. While it may not be that obvious, we are now welcoming the return of the light, with daylight slowly and gradually increasing since last Saturday. I like thinking about the Winter Solstice as a time of dual celebration, which I’ve recently read about. In other words, it means reminding ourselves to slow down, replenish our energy and look back on our journey – embracing the ‘dark side’ of winter. While taking the opportunity to hold a space to incubate our aspirations for the second half of the year – connecting to the light source within us. And to achieve that, we need to keep warm, and I am not talking about cranking the heater up to its maximum, but finding a place of comfort within ourselves. The below suggestions will certainly help.
Warming foods
Compared to every other season of the year, winter is a time for being inside, especially around the savoury smells of a kitchen in full use! Yes, it is colder outside, and we may need extra calories to fight the cold and stay warm. Warming foods (foods with warming properties) are an excellent choice during this season. They include most root vegetables (like carrots, beetroot, celeriac…), and most cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower…). For seasoning, hot peppers can also be more frequently used at this time of the year. Smaller, dense & compacted foods make also great choices, just like we tend to go inside and get more compacted in our mouvements during this season. In some popular approaches to winter eating, winter is described as the time to store up on heavier, high-calorie foods. Whole grains that include the nutrient dense bran and germ makes the perfect example of a good winter choice. Seeds are another great example of a nutritiously compacted winter food, especially sunflower and sesame seeds, which are considered especially warming in some traditions. Dried beans and lentils that would be used in preparing of a hearty winter soup would also fit into this category. What is fun when the season changes is to compose your meals around the veggies, fruits, herbs and spices that are in season. And guess what? All the food you need to stay warm this winter is available in your veggie garden now! So try to privilege those in your meals. Good for you, good for Mother Earth. For me, there is nothing more satisfying in winter than a hearty hot bowl of soup. I could eat soup every day, all kind. To mix it up I also love a veggie stew with brown rice, whole grain barley or buckwheat…simple and delicious!
Warming company
Eating is a very social activity. And I am not saying that because I was born in food (being French). No Melbournians would deny that either, with the profusion of cafes and restaurants available here in Melbourne. Winter is a perfect season for getting together with friends and family around a relaxed, well-prepared meal. The sharing of food can be one of the most peaceful and lasting experiences of winter. Particularly if you start feeling the winter blues’ first symptoms. The reassuring feeling of a genuinely shared meal can help offset other difficulties during this time.
Warming yoga
Why always going for something new when we can recycle? Last year I wrote a journal entry totally dedicated to the practice of Yoga for Winter and I wouldn’t change a thing! Read more
Other warming activities
• Brave the chill of the air and go for a walk in nature (or by the beach). There are plenty of beautiful sunny days in winter and they are great opportunities to maintain your Vitamin D levels.
• Take the time to pause and find a comfy place to read a book, listen to some music, or better: play music yourself! I just got a beautiful handmade Ukulele and I find playing (or trying to) an incredibly relaxing and meditative practice.
• Back to food, bake something yum!!!
Warm up, it’s winter! is the mantra that might hold the key to your physical and mental health as you make your way through this portion of the year. Feel free to share the little wintry practices that work for you, I’d love to hear about them! ^_^