Winter Winter Winter

The Artic Chill has arrived with local hail, thunderstorms and snowfall in the Dandenong’s. June is shaping up to be what looks like a true winter . Today is the first day I have pulled out my three winter essentials; scarf, gloves and hat. I remember last year I barely pulled out my winter coat. The weather this year certainly seems to be on the colder side. 2011 will be the year of the forgotten summer and hopefully a great snow season. Which brings me to my question. . How do we protect our health and ourselves for the up and coming cold winter months?

Believe it or not, I like to live my life according to the seasons. For some, this may be hard to believe (Mum & Dad). My life journey has taken me down many windy roads only to discover the joys of balance. My philosophy is Health-Life-Balance. “Fit as much as you possibly can into life with a balance”. I have an image in my head of a clown juggling five balls at once. I have lost count of the countless early mornings I have spent riding, running or swimming during winter. Now, that I’m in my 30’s I have finally found some common sense. What does my exercise regime look like in winter? Yoga, Yoga, Yoga with a couple of runs thrown in (All weather dependant).

What I love about yoga is that is has taught me to go inwards and learn to just stop and be. My life has always been doing and this is all I’ve known. I thrive on the go, go, go but now I really appreciate the quiet times. This is what winter is about. Its all about the Yin aspect, surrendering, quietness, giving back to yourself, spending time with loved ones, cooking, early nights, movies, dvd’s and the big one for me is having a sleep in. I love listening to the rain outside and hugging in snuggly doona, as cheesy as it sounds, and I love the five-letter word – R.E.L.A.X. Winter is the time to really appreciate the simple things in life. This is the perfect time of year to replenish your health and conserve your energy.

Tips for Winter
• Consume lots of hearty warming foods
• If you’re feeling tired and your body needs rest- listen to your body- not your head.
• Rug Up- scarf, gloves, beanies, hats.
• Reduce your stress levels- take a trip down to the Mornington Peninsula “Hot Springs”.
• If you feel a cold coming on- eat Miso Soup with fresh spring onions. It’s winters best natural remedy.
• Reduce your coffee intake. Drink Chai tea/lattes
• Sleep in
• Stay Dry

Miso Soup with Shallots - A remedy for the common cold

Miso Soup with shallots is an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for colds. In 300 AD a famous herbalist, Ge Hong, writes about Miso Soup with Shallots in a book called, Bei ji zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve.

The soup is used at the onset of a cold when a person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose, muscle aches and a slight fever.

Miso Soup
Serves 4

Ingredients:

6 cups water
3-4 tablespoons Miso or red soy bean paste (usually sold in the refrigerated section)
3-5 green onions stalks, chopped
3 pieces each of thinly sliced fresh ginger & garlic

Directions:

Dissolve the miso in a little bit of hot water (about 2 tsp.)
Bring water up to boiling point in a saucepan and add the miso & shallots & ginger.
Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat top with green onions and serve.

Variations: you can add various other ingredients to make a more substantial soup, such as tofu, fresh mushrooms, snow pea sprouts, cooked rice noodles

So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure to have your miso!