What I talk to my patient in the room about health in Winter
Winter season seldom gives people a cheerful impression. Maybe because of the temperature being low, more susceptible for cold and sickness, or simply because of short sunlight time etc. But nature still gave us this season for a reason.
I found it interesting how mammals live in winter time. Either they hibernate or they migrate if they are not the species hibernating. They store food, make dietary changes, and thicken fur/grow fat layers. Conserve energy by getting together(life wolf), decrease activity(decrease not stop).
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (Huang Di Nei Jing) that I always refer to when I talk about the lifestyle, talks about the winter lifestyle as: "During the three months of winter, this is called the period of closure and storage. Water freezes, and the earth cracks open. Do not disturb the Yang energy. Go to bed early and rise late, waiting for the sunlight. Keep your mind peaceful, as if you have hidden intentions, as if you have already gained something internally. Avoid the cold and seek warmth. Do not let the skin open up to release sweat, so that your Qi is not depleted. This is in accordance with the energy of winter, and it is the way to nurture and store [one’s essence]."(“冬三月，此谓闭藏。水冰地坼，无扰乎阳，早卧晚起，必待日光，使志若伏若匿，若有私意，若已有得也。去寒就温，无泄皮肤，使气亟夺，此冬气之应，养藏之道也。”)
The old classic wisdom says, do not do too strenuous exercise to exhaust yourself. But please do light exercise to heat the body up. Always standardize the sleep time with the sun. Keeping your mind peaceful does not mean avoiding any emotion or stress, it means people should let go of emotions either sadness, worry, or extreme happiness(not drenched in the feelings) and focus on what you already have to be grateful for at the moment. Not releasing sweat nowadays can be interpreted as avoiding doing that outdoors. After sweating the body, we should avoid going out without thoroughly wiping it. If you sweat outdoors doing activities, seek for a warm place before your body temperature goes down.
