Not to simplify, but if you asked most professionals what is the most important thing about being an expert in their field, many of them would say it is their grasp of the basics in their specific area. Yes, it is true, professionals have spent numerous creative years evolving their basic knowledge, but it is all grounded in basic understanding. A basketball coach returns to basics as she increases the skill of her charges, a chess master has the form of the game to return to as he hones his strategy, a farmer knows it is the dirt that matters. Plants need water and sun, but if the dirt plants grow in isn't renewed and nourished, the plants don't thrive. Attention to the plants is natural, but attention to how the dirt is fairing is basic to the health of the plant.
And so it is with us. We are human. We are supposed to be in flow as pointed out in our several circulation systems (blood, lymph, respiration, cerebral spinal fluids). Winter or not, flow we must be. So, getting back to basics for us would be asking questions that we may have gotten distanced from due to weather or lack of sunlight.
Am I hydrated adequately? Because sweat is not the most obvious occurrence in cold weather, we tend to drink less water in the winter, losing track of fluid intake. Adequate hydration keeps the various virus' and viral bacteria on the move. Flushing the system keeps us in flow.
Am I moving enough? Movement in inertia-prone cold weather, keeps the immune-promoting lymph circulating. It also primes and helps to balance our hormone-producing organs. It tweaks our pancreas, pineal gland and thyroid. This is basic for wellness. Movement supports our winter-waning qi and prana. Our winter-subdued respirations are woken up and start to flow, activating all the other circulation processes.
What is the quality of my rest? This probably hinges on one's activity level. Rest for most 21st century occupants is tied to electronic media or technology. Gone is the ritual of putting one's feet up in front of a fire and relaxing with a good book. So, how is your rest? Do the little-vigilances that we all participate in, let down? Are they shook up a little bit everyday with deep laughter? Laughter? Remember that carefree, releasing action? Yet another aspect of rest is engaging with spirit.
And finally we come to another basic: nutrition. Ah, nutrition in winter.... what exactly is that? The greens available are so uninspiring. The body craves carbs. Ugh. Maybe nutrition in winter is about following from the inside out. What calls me after having tired of endless soups, broths and teas? Fleshy, golden squash? Fresh herbs, fragrant and deep in color? protein-rich mushrooms with their particular dense vibration? an herby-wine poached white fish locally caught? Potato-garlic mash? I spend a lot of time being still in the produce section of stores. (I spent about 10 minutes with a bunch of foot long chives the other day, admiring their plump juicy heads, imagining them in a stir fry, or thrown in at the last minute in a fish stew.) Looking. Watching. Opening. This is required in winter, unlike the abundant seasons of spring, summer and fall, when the produce is grabbing you with their energy as you try to pass them. Produce just isn't that spunky in winter. It travels long distances, and is usually displaced from its normally exotic home. It's jet-truck lagged? Been on ice too long? Sometimes a long opening wait in front of greens is required before you can hear the call.
The qi manifests in glowing embers rather than burning fires. Ambitions and ego are subdued. It's a slow time. Back to basics.
Am I hydrated adequately? Because sweat is not the most obvious occurrence in cold weather, we tend to drink less water in the winter, losing track of fluid intake. Adequate hydration keeps the various virus' and viral bacteria on the move. Flushing the system keeps us in flow.
Am I moving enough? Movement in inertia-prone cold weather, keeps the immune-promoting lymph circulating. It also primes and helps to balance our hormone-producing organs. It tweaks our pancreas, pineal gland and thyroid. This is basic for wellness. Movement supports our winter-waning qi and prana. Our winter-subdued respirations are woken up and start to flow, activating all the other circulation processes.
What is the quality of my rest? This probably hinges on one's activity level. Rest for most 21st century occupants is tied to electronic media or technology. Gone is the ritual of putting one's feet up in front of a fire and relaxing with a good book. So, how is your rest? Do the little-vigilances that we all participate in, let down? Are they shook up a little bit everyday with deep laughter? Laughter? Remember that carefree, releasing action? Yet another aspect of rest is engaging with spirit.
And finally we come to another basic: nutrition. Ah, nutrition in winter.... what exactly is that? The greens available are so uninspiring. The body craves carbs. Ugh. Maybe nutrition in winter is about following from the inside out. What calls me after having tired of endless soups, broths and teas? Fleshy, golden squash? Fresh herbs, fragrant and deep in color? protein-rich mushrooms with their particular dense vibration? an herby-wine poached white fish locally caught? Potato-garlic mash? I spend a lot of time being still in the produce section of stores. (I spent about 10 minutes with a bunch of foot long chives the other day, admiring their plump juicy heads, imagining them in a stir fry, or thrown in at the last minute in a fish stew.) Looking. Watching. Opening. This is required in winter, unlike the abundant seasons of spring, summer and fall, when the produce is grabbing you with their energy as you try to pass them. Produce just isn't that spunky in winter. It travels long distances, and is usually displaced from its normally exotic home. It's jet-truck lagged? Been on ice too long? Sometimes a long opening wait in front of greens is required before you can hear the call.
The qi manifests in glowing embers rather than burning fires. Ambitions and ego are subdued. It's a slow time. Back to basics.
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