Rejuvenate This Winter

from Health, Beauty & Fitness Winter '23

Food Is Medicine

Rejuvenate This Winter By traCy Flaherty

Winter is a time of rest and rejuvenation for the mind body and spirit. It is the season to retreat, plan and prepare for spring. Some of the most wonderful moments of the year take place during the winter, when there is time to surround yourself with loved ones who truly support you, practice self-care you might not have time for and experiment with some comforting new foods and rituals. Selflove is a practice that deserves attention all year round, but this winter let’s focus a little more on developing the habits that best pamper and nourish ourselves mind, body and spirit.

As a meditation teacher my first go-to way to nourish my mind and spirit in winter is to keep my meditation practice strong and non-negotiable. Taking just 10 minutes a day to quiet the mind, breathe deeply - and go within makes for a better me. I don’t meditate every day to become better at meditating. I meditate every day to become a better person. My meditation practice helps me to respond and not react to life’s situations and problems. It helps to turndown the volume of fearful thoughts especially during these trying times. By turning down the fearful thoughts, I make room for, I welcome and cultivate my calm inner guide to come forward and lead the way. We can never completely turn off the thoughts within our minds but we can learn to get between the thoughts and the voice in our heads. It also gives us a chance to change the dialogue to a more positive, loving and kinder way of thinking.

There is also evidence the meditation is helpful in managing Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD), which is a real problem to many people during winter. One theory is that the main cause of the winter blues is a disturbance in the physiology of the pineal gland, a small gland located in the brain that regulates patterns of sleep and waking. Meditation stimulates the pineal gland, inducing the secretion of melatonin and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and happiness to name a few feel good feelings. Releasing feel good hormones will keep you grounded and happier through the winter months.

The winter can also be a time for reflection and intention setting that can lead you to make this season, unexpectedly the most beautiful season of the year. Journaling and intention setting sets the tone for the months ahead and gives us time to plan and set goals for the upcoming new year. The best way to start your day is with meditation and journaling. You can use your journal for gratitude, setting goals and manifesting your dreams. So, start today sit, breathe even for 10 minutes and when you open your eyes see the day in a bright way. If you say you do not have 10 minutes to set aside to meditate and feel good I ask you this simple question: you have plenty of time to scroll through your phone and feel poorly why not take 10 of those minutes to put your phone down and go within where all of the answers lie?

Tracy Flaherty is an integrative health and lifestyle coach, meditation teacher and author. She teaches meditation one-on-one and in-group settings. Teaching people how to breathe, de-stress and find inner peace. You can find her meditations on the Insight timer app and on her Instagram page @wellwith_tracy. She does a free live 10-minute meditation on Instagram every morning at 10a.m. called Zen in Ten. As well as in person group meditations at Reflections Spiritual Wellness Studio at 274 Lafayette Ave. in Hawthorne on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Contact Tracy at bewellnourished.com.

HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Hackensack University Medical Center hosted a celebration for Dr. Howard Ross’ Formal Investiture as the M. Martin Ross Distinguished Chair in Surgery at Indian Trail Club. For more information, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.