WINTER SEASON & TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Yin yoga pose

Yesterday was winter solstice Yin within Yin. What I love about Chinese medicine is it is all about living according to the seasons in order to find balance and harmony between our bodies and the environment outside. Winter is associated with the Kidney organ (Kidney Yin) and the Water element. This is an important time to tonify the Kidney’s (this is where our Jing is stored - depleted Jing accelerates ageing). Yin is dark, cold, slow, inward, wet, and feminine energy.

As we start into winter it is important to remember that winter is a time for rest, being more introspective (journaling is helpful), meditation, going to bed early, keeping movement as part of your routine (it is crucial though not to overdo it), and taking warm baths with 1-2 cups of Epsom salts + 1 TBS of your choice of carrier oil (coconut, jojoba or sweet almond oil) & 3-6 drops of one of these essential oils (geranium, ylang-ylang, roman chamomile, lavender, clary sage, jasmine, wild orange, frankincense). These essential oils are also good for hormone balance.

Below you will find my favourite Yin yoga poses during the winter season…ones that help you be more introspective. Pick which poses resonate with you and remember that each pose is to be held from 3-5 minutes with the exception of savasana (minimum 10 minutes). Don’t be afraid to use props to get you better into the poses and most importantly don’t forget to BREATHE!

YIN YOGA POSES

  • Alternate Nostril Breath

  • Child's pose

  • Butterfly pose

  • Heart-melting pose

  • Caterpillar pose

  • Dangling pose

  • Frog pose

  • Reclined twist

  • Savasana

Food cures are vital in TCM and anyone who goes to a TCM Doctor or Acupuncturist will know that we like to recommend how to eat your foods. The winter season in Chinese medicine is all about ensuring our foods are cooked well. We like cooking our foods longer on low heat (think soups and stews) with less water and more warming herbs and spices. We want deeply nourishing meals.

TCM WINTER FOODS

  • Mustard greens

  • Parsnips

  • Winter squash

  • Sweet potato

  • Pumpkin

  • Tempeh

  • Kale

  • Seaweed

  • Leeks

  • Apples

  • Kidney beans

  • Black beans

  • Adzuki beans

  • Lentils

  • Oats

  • Quinoa

  • Millet

  • Mushrooms

  • Sunflower seeds

  • Sesame seeds

  • Walnuts

  • Chestnuts

  • Almonds

  • Miso

TCM WINTER SPICES

  • Garlic

  • Onions

  • Ginger

  • Cinnamon

  • Cloves

  • Nutmeg

  • Turmeric

  • Cayenne

  • Bay leaves

  • Basil

  • Rosemary

  • Fennel

  • Anise

  • Scallion

Wishing you a healthy winter season!

KT

Kelli TaylorElements Wellness Centreyin yoga, chinese medicine, yin yoga poses, hormone balance, essential oils, yoga, acupuncturist, breathe