Every fall I’m torn between wanting to chill and skipping into overdrive. Between feeling sluggish and being on top of the world. I have days where I can hardly comprehend the thought of leaving my house to take care of business and other days where I go straight to manufacturing mile long todo lists … And actually follow through.
Yesterday morning I could barely get my eyes to stay open, today I woke up and started cleaning my bathroom. Go figure.
Cleaning of course is something that comes up a lot, especially at the change of season. Many people like to do a big decluttering or fall clean in their house, go through their filing cabinets and get rid of all kinds of stuff that no longer serves them.
The same with our body. Change of season is a time where your body changes its modus operandi. In the colder and darker time of the year, even millions of years later, the natural instinct is to contract and hibernate. Obviously in our today life that’s not an option.
Feeling Sluggish?
Here are a few things you can do to stay energized and yet be gentle with yourself at the same time:
1. Start your day with a big glass of hot water with lemon.
Throw in a slice of fesh ginger. This first thing in the morning drink will get you re-hydrated after sleep, loosen up digestive waste that can then be eliminated, and stoke your digestive juices for breakfast.
2. A great wake-me-up is dry brushing!
Brushing your body with a dry brush ( health food store or drugstore) before your shower gets rid of dead skin cells that slough off during the night, and also gets your blood circulation and lymphatic system activated to wake you up and help release and drain toxins from your system! It’s a great quick picker upper in the morning.
3. Have a light breakfast!
Here is a great recipe to try this time of the year:
Apple and Pear Compote
1 apple
1 pear
3-4 fresh prune plums
1/2-1 tsp ground cinnamon
Squeeze of lemon
Stew on medium heat for about twenty minutes. Put a squeeze of fresh lemon and serve.
This is easy on your digestion and helps to get rid of the internal clutter, in other words, it helps to cleanse your intestines. Did I mention it’s delicious?
4. Go for a ten minute brisk walk after meals.
Fresh air will do you good and the brisk pace will combat any feelings of fatigue after eating. Whenever you can, grab your coat and your umbrella, if needed, and head out for a quick walk around the block. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just notice how good you feel and how much more productive you are after returning from your walk.
5. Make bedtime a little earlier.
It’s tough not wanting to sleep longer when it’s dark out. Sleeping into the morning will leave you feeling groggy and sluggish, so I’d say don’t do it! Instead go to bed a little earlier. Start with ten minutes, then make it twenty, work up to what’s comfortable.
If you need that extra snooze time, take it at night, not in the morning!
Lastly consider a cleanse. As with anything, your body wants a break, and accumulated toxins, be that physical or mental, can wear your down and make you tired. You get less productive during the day, lose your oomph!
Doing a gentle seasonal cleanse can really put the energy back into you and help you to a smooth sailing through seasonal changes.
Join me on “A Clean Start” and see how it can help you lighten up during the dark season!
Whatever you do, try some of the routines above, see how they work, adjust them to fit your lifestyle!
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Claudia Richey
Claudia Richey is a Victoria, B.C. based Personal Trainer and Ayurvedic Practitioner. She is passionate about sharing her unique approach of training and eating according to ones Body-Mind Constitution with other health professionals as well as using it on an ongoing basis with her own clients to help them reach their goals!
