The Winter Experience

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 by the Water element, the most Yin of all five elements. An emotional element, Water is also malleable – it takes the shape of whatever container it is in. Therefore winter is a good time to go with the flow. For example, if uncomfortable feelings arise, breathe with them and let them move naturally in the body.

Water is also associated with fear; death; creativity; dreaming; inner, spiritual or ancestral strength; inner knowledge and wisdom, and the sense of collectivity and being part of something bigger than oneself.

While taking care is good all year round, know that the self-care you do now will serve you well in the spring. In the list below we offer 21 ways to Yin it up (and nourish the Water element, too).

21 Ways to Yin It Up:

1. Get plenty of good sleep. Go to bed earlier and rise later.

2. Get acupuncture. Leverage the restorative energetics of the season with regular treatments. Also, great for tending to immune health and winter aches and pains.

3. Meditate.

4. Enjoy a sound bath. Check out our next Sound Immersion at Quarry Lake.

5. Do Breathwork. Try the Breathwrk app.

6. Practice yoga. Try Yin Yoga with Adriene.

7. Stretch.
   

8. Do martial arts. Try Winter QiGong with Mimi Kuo-Deemer.

9. Chill out with music. Check out our Spotify for music we listen to in the clinic.

10. Cook. Make warm and nourishing foods like this TCM Potato Leek Soup.

11. Enjoy a cup of warm tea. Try teas like:
    
    • Black (decaf at night): for warmth
    • Ginger: for immunity
    • Rose: for mood
    • Peppermint and licorice tea: for calm
    • Cinnamon, fennel, and fresh ginger: for digestion and health gut
12. Float. Try Truth, Mind and Body‘s float cabins.

13. Take a bath.
    

14. Use essential oils in in the shower/bath, in a diffuser, or during a massage. We love Sobotanical’s Intrepid blend during this time of year. Also try:
    
    • Geranium, ylang ylang, or jasmine: nourishes yin, lifts the spirit, and connects with our inner beauty and essence
    • Basil: for fatigue, depression, focus, and memory
    • Rosemary or tea tree: for calming nerves
    • Juniper + thyme: for depression and to help build inner strength
    • Cedarwood: for relaxation and sleep
    • Cypress: for will-power to stand up for oneself
    • Ginger: warming and uplifting
    • Geranium: to help slow down and relax
    • Citrus oils: to uplift the spirit
    • Pine, spruce or fir: for grounded self-confidence

15. Take care of your skin. Be sure to hydrate and moisturize, but also try face yoga and gua sha. And if you’ve been thinking about microneedling, now’s the time to do it.

16. Journal. Write down your thoughts, dreams (the ones you have at night), ambitions and plans.

17. Get creative. Practice writing, drawing, painting, photography, designing, ceramics, cooking, etc.

18. Take a slow walk in nature. Use the AllTrails app to find trails near you, especially by bodies of water.

19. Lower lights in the evening. Light candles for even more cozy vibes. We love 228 Grant Street.

20. Read.

21. Take screen breaks. 🙂