The Winter Experience

By |2024-01-08T13:21:18-05:00January 4th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , |

Photo by Daniel Frese from Pexels Winter is the most Yin time of year in Chinese medicine. Yin being an energy that is dark, cold, slow, and inward, the antithesis of Summer’s Yang energy. The way we use our energy is particularly important during the most Yin and Yang times of year. During wintertime, nurture and nourishment is a necessity, introspection and reflection come easily, and planting seeds for the future is the strategy. This is the time to nourish the body, mind, and soul with slow, quiet, reflective, and restorative Yin activities. In addition, the winter season is ruled [...]

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Jammed Yams

By |2022-11-15T14:06:18-05:00January 22nd, 2021|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Jammed Yam is a staple in my cooking rotation. One of my housemates said “I would eat this as often as every other week.” High praise. The recipe is below, but basically Jammed Yam is a baked sweet potato served with warm black beans and pineapple salsa. It’s a rip off of Mom’s Organic Market’s Jammed Yam, which they serve in their Naked Lunch cafe. I love this dish because it is: Delicious  Inexpensive Easy Vegan  A good vehicle for toppings - avocado, cilantro, and more!  Eating this meal just feels warm and nourishing. April Crowell, a Holistic Nutritionist, [...]

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Themes of Winter: Rest & Nourish

By |2022-11-15T14:06:18-05:00January 22nd, 2021|Categories: coronavirus, Mood, Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Photo by Annie Spratt Lately in the treatment room, patients are reporting feeling extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, and depression. This admission is typically followed by the question, “what’s wrong with me?”  Nothing is wrong! For many of us, our nervous systems have been under stress for a long period of time and this can have a significant impact on our health. The remedy is to lean into the wisdom of the season and allow ourselves the space to rest. This year, it’s more important than ever.  Rest According to TCM, much like many animals in nature, Winter is [...]

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The Winter Blues

By |2024-01-09T11:09:20-05:00January 30th, 2020|Categories: Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , |

For many people, mid- to late winter can be difficult. We’ve shaken off the holidays, have slid back into our routine, and any sentimental feelings we may have about winter are starting to dissipate. We may be noticing more sunlight in the morning and evening. But it’s cold and dry, creating the potential for snow. “When will this end?” is an ever-looming question. Sound familiar? A Shared Experience In 2014, Christopher Ingraham, a former researcher at the Brookings Institution and Pew Research Center correlated Google search data to determine the general population’s mood throughout the year. Known as the Google [...]

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Hot Tips for Winter: Leaning into Yin

By |2022-11-15T14:07:01-05:00January 3rd, 2020|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , |

If we follow nature’s way, living in harmony with the season, and take a Winter rest, we will emerge in the Spring with restored energy, clear vision, and a sense of purpose. Here's a refresher on how to "yin it up" during these dark, cold months. To really lean into the season... Get more rest. This is nature’s season for rest, repair, and regeneration—a phase important for our next cycle of growth. The Nei Ching, oldest-known document of Chinese medicine, advises: “[In Winter], people should retire early at night and rise late in the morning, and they should wait [...]

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