How To: Beat the Winter Blues

Have you ever noticed that you feel more tired in the winter months? Is it harder for you to get out of bed in the morning, or stay awake at night? Or maybe do you feel hungrier, craving rich, heavy foods? Welcome to vata season, as defined by the Ayurveda - characterized by cold, windy days and less sunlight.

An earlier sunset means less time for outdoor activities.

The Aryurveda

The Ayurveda is a traditional Hindu system of natural healing, and is as widely practiced in India as western medicine, having been incorporated into their healthcare system and medical infrastructure. As written in the Ayurvedic texts, there are three "states" of health that must be balanced, called doshas. They are defined as:

1. Vata (Space & Air) - this energy controls the bodily functions associated with movement, including blood circulation and breath.
2. Pitta (Fire & Water) - this energy controls the body's metabolic systems, including digestion and body temperature.
3. Kapha (Water & Earth) - this energy controls growth in the body, and includes the transportation of water to all body parts, and the immune system.

In the late fall and early winter, the vata energies are dominant. This means that our environment is cold and windy, and our bodies are prompted towards slowness, fatigue, and indulgence in heavy foods. However, we can counteract vata through what we eat and what we do.

Source: HuffPost

Balancing Vata Energy

1. Listen to your body. The body's Circadian Rhythm (the force that tells us when to go to sleep and when to wake up) functions in harmony with the natural rising and setting of the sun. When the sun goes down, it cues our body to prepare for sleep. In addition, the brain will produce less melatonin when there is less sunlight (further disrupting our Circadian Rhythms). Because there is less sunlight in winter, you will naturally want to sleep later and go to bed earlier. Honor your body by listening to these signals. You may not have as much time in the day as you're used to, but your energy will be in better alignment with your environment.

2. Wake up with Hot Lemon Water. Drinking hot lemon water in the morning will cleanse your system and and kickstart your metabolism. Try my Winter Wake-Up Tonic recipe here!

3. Start the Morning by Stretching. Unless you sleep standing up, your body is not in its natural alignment while you're asleep. When you stay in one position over a long period of time (as you do when you're sleeping), the blood "settles" into different areas of the body than it's used to. By stretching, you help recirculate your blood flow back to its normal state.

4. Eat a Protein-Dense Breakfast. Because protein digests slowly, it will keep you fuller for a longer period of time, quelling the desire to overindulge in food. Try hard-boiled eggs with turkey bacon, or this protein granola from Nature Valley.

5. Spice Things Up. By adding spice to your foods, you will add fiery pitta energy to your day, helping to balance the wintery vata. The best route here is to use peppers or spice mixes containing capsaicin (the compound that makes hot peppers hot). Capsaicin can be found in chili peppers, cayenne peppers, and tabasco peppers, and has been shown to contain antioxidants and aid in weight loss. What's more, the burning sensation in your mouth might help you forget about the cold outside!
In addition, spicy and energizing scents such as lemon, grapefruit, orange, and cinnamon will help revitalize you in the morning. Try The Body Shop's Total Energy Essential Oil or Golden Earth's Miracle Energy 2nd Chakra to energize yourself in the morning.

6. Create Warmth. In the winter when our biggest urge is to go back to bed and hibernate, it is crucial that we create warmth in our bodies by moving, whether it be through a quick run or a bikram yoga class.

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Keep in mind that like all seasons, winter is a transient phase. Spring always comes again!