Nurturing Yourself in January: Essential Selfcare Tips for a Fresh Start

It's January and we’re in the “dead of winter” now, which has the energetics of cold, heavy, and slow, and can cause stagnation in the body. To counteract these energetics we want warm, light and mobile, so try a few of these selfcare tips for January.

January Selfcare Tips

Food

• Cut down on, or avoid, heavy or gooey foods such as dairy and wheat.

• We need warming foods now to combat the cold, so avoid raw foods. Instead, eat cooked foods, and try broth, soups, and stews. If you're feeling under the weather, try a bowl of Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Roasted Green Chili.

• Cut down on the heavy carbs, especially processed carbs like cookies, cakes, etc., and have lean protein and more fiber, such as veggies, fruit and whole grains.

A plate of warming herbs

Herbs

• Cook with warming herbs like ginger, turmeric, black pepper, chili peppers, garlic, cinnamon, and cloves to help move stagnation and increase circulation.

• Stay hydrated but don’t gulp. Sip on warm water throughout the day to keep you warm and to aid digestion. Herbal teas are also hydrating.

Woman walking on a clear, sunny winter day

Lifestyle

• Upon waking, get moving with yoga or Tai Chi. A few rounds of Sun Salutation will get circulation going, warm you up, and wake you up. Weather permitting, try a walk.

• Wear layers of clothing to stay warm. If you suffer from low back pain or a kidney condition, keep this area warm with a wrap, such as a scarf, or you can purchase a Kidney Wrap online.

Happy New Year!

Resources:

https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/article/Ayurvedic-Diet-for-January/978?

New Mexico School of Yoga, "Ayurvedic Winter Wisdom", 2023