Holistic Winter Body Care

With Winter’s cooler weather we often change our routines and tend to huddle in, cover up and hibernate. On an energetic level this is a great time to go inside and review the past year … what has worked and what needs some change. It’s a time to reconnect with our spirituality.

On the physical side the colder dryer weather can leave us with dry, flaky skin, achy joints, cold or flu symptoms … so let's address those.

Our Skin - the largest organ
During the winter, as temperatures drop so does the humidity level and that has a drying effect on our skin. Here are some ways to maintain some moisture and keep your skin feeling great.

 - Hydrate yourself! Often we’re not as thirsty during cooler months but our body is still needing water to keep it hydrated. Our skin and other organs need that water to function well.

- Keep your skin protected. When you’re outside be sure to bundle up and provide a layer of clothing between your skin and harsher elements. Moisturizing regularly is also essential to provide a layer of protection to dry skin and keep it healthy. Add regular exfoliation to your skincare regime in order to remove dead cells so the skin beneath can more readily absorb moisture.

-Go for regular massage sessions to get those hard to reach places of the back moisturized. The skin on the back is just as important as the skin on the face.

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Cold hands, cold feet
As outside temperatures drop our body begins to reduce circulation to outer extremities in order to maintain a constant core temperature. This can result in our hands and feet feeling colder than usual. Keeping them wrapped and warm is one way to keep warmer, also ingesting hot food and warm drinks helps to keep the core temperature up so circulation to the extremities is enhanced.

When outside keep bundled up and add some extra layers to extremeties. Also consider wearing a hat as the body loses a lot of heat through the top of the head.

Invest in regular Reflexology or Massage sessions for your hands and feet to keep circulation flowing well.

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Achy joints
The reduction of circulation to extremities has an impact on our joints, whether you are dealing with arthritis or not, you can feel aches and pains that may not be there in warmer months.

Movement, hot baths and showers and massage to extremities helps to encourage increased blood flow to the areas and warm them up.

Whether you exercise indoor or outdoors it’s essential to keep moving! Movement helps to lubricate the joints and that helps to keep the aches away.

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Before and throughout Winter Months cold and flu viruses are more prevalent
Prevention is the best cure! Keeping your immune system at the top of it’s game before and during the winter months helps your body to ward off viruses. If you’ve already been struck by a bug a stronger immune system will help you to recover more quickly.

Remember thought that each time you do have a cold or flu virus and your body manages to naturally recover, your immune system becomes stronger.

Ways to strengthen your immune system include good nutrition and exercise. You can also use Essential oils (applied to skin or in a diffuser), Holistic health modalities such as Reflexology, Reiki and Massage, Deep breathing, yoga and other stress reducing activities. 

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Stay Well