Simple spring habits

Welcome to mud season! Spring is arriving, the bright yellow forsythia is starting to appear, and adventure is in the air. The spring equinox is my personal green light to go. How about you?

Whether or not you feel it, your body knows it’s time for spring cleaning. You already know that I’m not a fan of intense detoxes. I like simple things that you can incorporate into your regular life. Here are some of my favorites. Pick a few and try them out. This is not meant to be a checklist, but rather an invitation of options.

High Energy Practices:

• Morning sunlight to reset your circadian rhythm. If you have trouble with sleep, this is one for you to consider. Get some time outside without sunglasses first thing in the morning. It’s healing for your eyes and it’s so invigorating.
• Dry brushing before showering to stimulate lymphatic flow. Dry brushing also removes dead and dry skin from winter.
• Contrast hydrotherapy (alternating hot and cold water) to boost circulation. Try cool water, not cold, for 30 seconds. If you can, alternate three times between warm and cool, ending on cool. Otherwise once is great. See if you can gradually move from cool to cold. This is a hard one for me, and I stick to cool, not cold, in the shower.
• Digital time-outs. There are many ways to do this. I stop electronics 1-2 hours before bed, and no electronics in the bedroom. I also have a switch on the wi-fi, and it gets turned off every night.

Spring Cleansing Foods:

• Dandelion greens. I love dandelions, and seeing them makes me so happy. The leaves are a powerhouse support for your liver. Any bitter greens will do, but cultivated dandelion is easy to get.
• Nettle tea. I suggest adding nettle to your favorite herbal tea blend or drink it on its own. Nettle is rich in minerals and natural antihistamine properties.
• Asparagus. Spring is all about asparagus! It’s my favorite spring find at farmers markets. Asparagus is supportive for your kidneys.
• Lemon in warm water. This is a great morning cleansing ritual to start the day.

Movement Practices:

• Rebounding on mini-trampoline. This is so much fun! I bounce after lymph tapping nearly every morning, and it’s a great way to wake up and start smiling.
• Gentle twisting yoga poses. There’s lying down, seated, and standing twists, depending on what you feel like. They get your spine and internal organs moving. Let me know if you want a recommendation that works for you.
• Outside walking. I like walking our dog, Hazel, while listening to the noisy springtime birds and checking out the progress of the buds on the trees.
• Breathwork. Rhythmic diaphragm breathing massages your organs and is very calming. Try exhaling for longer than your inhale. That keeps it simple.

If you’re ready to investigate persistent health patterns that you wish were different, or uplevel your current state of health, I recommend a strategy call with me. We’ll assess what you’ve already done, what you’re doing now, and whether bioenergetic testing and health coaching might be right for you.