As the days get shorter and colder, it’s an easy time to get lazy with following a routine; however the winter is my favorite time of year to reflect on how I can slow down and take time to really nourish myself and feel my best despite this time of year having a reputation for getting sick or feeling run down. My two biggest areas of focus are the following: GUT health + LYMPHATIC drainage. These two systems are key to immunity, so I always make sure to nurture both and it really does make a difference in my overall health and wellbeing.
GUT HEALTH
While I focus on gut health year round for healthy skin and digestion, this time of year I turn things up a notch. Overall health stems from the gut and maintaining good bacteria, so I make sure to start each morning taking my pre+probiotics from Seed. It’s a monthly subscription and they are such high quality strains. I then drink pure celery juice on an empty stomach, and wait 30 minutes before eating. Celery juice has so many amazing benefits but the key one is that it has enzymes that support the pH of your stomach, creating a better environment for bacteria to grow. I also continue to take spiruilina for its immune boosting and vitamin benefits!
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
I started hearing about lymphatic drainage a little over a year ago, and it makes such a difference in my morning and night routine. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that consists of lymph, or white blood cells, that rush to any foreign object and attack as part of immune response. Activating and moving the lymph around is key for its function and regeneration. There are 3 ways to increase circulation for better lymphatic drainage.
Dry Brushing: Dry brushing consists of using a soft, but stiff bristle brush on dry skin starting from the feet and brushing up towards your heart. After legs, moving to arms and continuing to brush towards your heart, and finally in a clockwise motion on the stomach. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but the tingling sensation afterwards really makes you feel energized! I do this every morning!
Gua Sha: I just purchased a rose quartz gua sha on Amazon and it has been so great for sculpting my face and essentially doing the same thing as dry brushing. I watched several YouTube tutorials to learn how to do it properly. (Pro tip: stick yours in the freezer for a few minutes before using, it feels AMAZING!)
Hot Yoga: I love to break a sweat at hot yoga in the winter not only to warm up, but to also improve circulation, detoxify my skin, increase white blood cell count, and keep my skin glowing!
All of these products can be found on Amazon for much cheaper than most health stores or high end beauty brands so be sure to check there first!
