My opinion piece last month on the Top 10 ‘Get Happy’ Strategies (Part 1), dealt with being balanced, centered and stabilized, and how it is directly correlated to detoxing the body physically and energetically. We are in the season of the ‘winter blues’ where it’s common to feel a little down during colder months as we are stuck inside, and it gets dark so early. Others may be more sensitive and deal with seasonal depression, also called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It’s our responsibility to do whatever we can to defy the gravitational pull towards negativity that can occur during the winter months. I’m excited to share the next 5 Self Care Strategies that can warm you up when life appears to have gotten frosty. Each one of these tips can lighten a heavy vibe and put a spring back into your step.
Go to the Light:
When being outdoors and getting more sunlight is not an option, bright light therapy or phototherapy can help treat SAD and boost your mood. Light therapy boxes can offer an effective treatment for the winter blues by mimicking outdoor light. It is thought that this type of light may cause a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood and eases symptoms of SAD such as being irregularly tired and sleeping too much. They are designed to deliver a therapeutic dose of bright light to produce an exposure to 10,000 lux of light with as little as UV light as possible. Another old (but new) therapy is called chromotherapy that uses colour and light to treat certain mental and physical conditions. This therapy dates to the ancient Egyptians where they used sun-filled rooms with coloured glass for therapeutic purposes. Another mainstream form of light therapy is ‘red light’ therapy which is mainly used to enhance mitochondrial turnover in the tissues to increase physical healing but is also being recognized for its ‘feel good’ benefits. All three of these light therapies are worth investigating to see which is right for you.
Lymphatic Drainage and Detox Bath:
Dry brushing is an Ayurvedic practice that involves rubbing a natural fiber brush with coarse bristles over your body. Dry skin brushing stimulates your lymphatic system, which aids in detoxification. It boosts your circulation, exfoliates your skin and is invigorating, elevating your mood and energy. Like massage, it can offer stress relief allowing you to feel more relaxed. When your lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and can potentially make you sick, as well as create a foggy brain coupled with low mood. Starting at the bottom of your feet, using light pressure, move in a long sweeping motion toward your heart. Brush each area several times and overlap as you go to ensure that you do not miss a spot. Brush your arms up, mid-section up and from the neck down. After dry brushing, soak in a detox bath. Nothing is better than a bath when it comes to detoxing the skin, arguably the largest organ of elimination. It has been called the 3rd kidney. A detox bath can soothe muscle tension, promote relaxation, remove toxins, and cleanse your energy field leaving you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. It should be taken as hot as you can tolerate for 20-40 minutes, making sure the back of your head has some time to soak too. Here are my recommended ingredients. 1 cup each of the following: magnesium flakes, sea salts, baking soda (aluminum free), Mule Team Borax powder (all-natural sodium borate powder), and Bentonite Clay. Options: adding essential oils can assist in elevating one’s mood like tangerine, orange, Ylang Ylang, patchouli, or bergamot. Following your soak, take a cool shower and scrub your body from any toxins that may have been eliminated. Drink plenty of water before and after.
An Inversion a Day keeps the Depression Away
Purposely turning ourselves upside-down is contrary to our physical nature, and yet the benefits of upending ourselves are many. The invitation to invert is simply another way to shake things up to step out of a rut. An inversion, in yoga, is categorized as any pose in which the head is below the heart. And while headstand, handstand, and shoulder stand immediately come to mind, there are gentler variations that may be more accessible for people. Poses such as downward dog, legs up the wall and happy baby are a great way in which to get things moving in a new direction. Simply lying on your back and bringing your legs straight up in the air to make a right angle with your torso can suffice. For an added benefit, plant your shoulders on the floor and raise your arms. Keeping the legs and arms hanging lifelessly as you lie on your back with your mind floating into space is fondly called ‘dead bug’. You can also press your bum against a wall and swing your legs up resting on the wall. Holding them there for a few breaths will create the increased blood flow you are looking for. Use gravity to provide the brain with more oxygen and blood, thus improving mental function, concentration, memory, processing abilities and can even relieve a headache. Plus, inversions re-introduce us to our inner child and remind us, it is also a time to be playful and lighthearted.
Spiritual Hygiene
A term used by energy practitioners or modern-day shamans. We take care of our bodies with exercise, good diets, and skin care, so why wouldn’t we take care of our energetic body as well? That’s where ‘spiritual hygiene’ comes in. One good way to clear and clean out unsavoury energy is by burning the sacred herb sage or Palo Santo wood. Some religions historically burned Frankincense to connect with something greater. With many of the holistic healing methods that have become popular, burning sage has become a common household tool. Concentrate on high traffic areas of your home or office where people’s energy is gathering, burning regularly to diffuse the space. Bad vibes, be gone. Burning sage is one of the oldest and purest methods of cleansing a person, group of people, or space and getting rid of unwanted energies. Sage also helps to clear bacteria in the air and sources claim that when sage is burned, it releases negative ions, which is linked to initiating people into a positive mood. Before you burn, open the windows so the unwanted energy has a pathway out. Other qualities believed to be associated with sage when burned are clarity and increasing spiritual wisdom.
Keep Breathing
Slow conscious breathing helps to calm your nervous system and focus your attention. Breathwork is one of the most powerful neuroscientific tools we have for improving concentration, managing stress, optimizing health, and guiding our spiritual advancement. Conscious breathing oxygenates your brain and all your cells. Breath Teacher Wim Hof states, “Heightened oxygen levels hold a treasure trove of benefits: more energy, reduced stress levels, and an augmented immune response that swiftly deals with pathogens.” He goes on to say that “a committed breath practice can produce increased energy, better sleep, reduced stress levels, heightened focus and determination, increased will power and stronger immune system.” 4-7-8 Breathing: Inhale through your nose for 4 counts filling to the top of your lungs, hold for 7 counts, and exhale through your mouth for 8 counts. Repeat 4x
When the mind, body and soul send out an SOS, it’s time to stop and take care of yourself. Besides adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, drinking structured water and doing 20 minutes of daily movement, these strategies could be the very life-ring you need to keep your vibe high.
