It’s springtime! The days are getting longer and the weather is warming up. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to take extra precautions during transitional seasons like spring and fall to ensure health during summer and winter.
Chinese medicine is all about staying in sync with your environment. Eating produce in season, living in harmony with Mother nature, and going with the flow of the changing seasons. Here are a few tips from one of the foundational books of Chinese medicine, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine (Huang di NeijIng Suwen). Although this advice dates back to thousands of years ago, it is still relevant today and can help you make this spring your best yet.
Go to bed early and wake up early. This timing goes in line with the sunrise and sunset of springtime. Getting enough shut-eye will keep you energized and boost your immune system to help fight off seasonal allergies.
Go for a walk in the morning and enjoy the “invigorating energy” of spring. A morning stroll will help you wake up with the sun and start your day off on the right foot. As a result, you’ll feel more in tune with nature and your body will release endorphins to increase your sense of wellbeing.
Exercise more often. Winter was the time to stay in and decrease your exercise and activity. Now that spring is here, increasing exercise and movement in general will help you manage this transitional time. If you’re not ready to start an exercise program, start slowly with stretching. It’s a great way to loosen up tight muscles.
Go with the flow and practice equanimity. Holding on too tightly to the past or the future can make you lose sight of the present moment. Being open, unsuppressed and flexible is what spring is all about.
These are simply a few suggestions for spring. What advice do you have for springtime? We’d love to hear from you.
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