Conditioning The Body For The Cold

Well, it's finally here - Winter! We are just 3 days away from the Winter Solstice and I can't help but think about the delightful symbolism of light in the darkness up here in the northern hemisphere this time of year. The sun sets earlier and earlier, the sky seems darker each morning and I wonder "how much longer?" - the answer: 3 days! On the Winter Solstice the days will begin to get ever so slightly longer, bringing more light into these cold days.
There is something so refreshing and cleansing about the cold and I'm grateful to live in a place that does get pretty cold. There are many physical changes our bodies have to undergo to get used to colder, wetter, wintry weather and I'd like to give you a few of my "secrets" for getting more cold-weather hardy.

• Hydrotherapy ​- One of my favorite cold weather practices is hydrotherapy -- that simply means using alternating hot and cold water to the body to change circulation. My method is to use hot (not burning) water in the shower on my chest for a 30 seconds to 1 minute, then switch to a cold temperature (as cold as you can handle) for a count of 20; switch back to hot and back to cold. Complete these cycle three times, ending in cold. This is more invigorating than a cup of coffee!
• Get outside, get exposed  - Exposing our bodies to outdoors when the weather changes can help us acclimate more easily to the shift in temperatures. Go for a walk, sit on your patio, walk outside your front door and see if it makes it easier. Wear your coat and hat and see if you can interact with nature even when the weather is crumby. 
• Use warming herbs - Herbs like ginger and cayenne have a special place in my heart in cold weather. These herbs can stimulate circulation and make you feel warmer immediately. Try ginger tea and add a pinch of cayenne powder. 
• Get up regularly - If you're like me, you have probably been sitting more frequently. To prevent the stasis that comes with sitting for long periods and leads to feeling chillier than necessary, make sure you're getting up and walking around and stretching if you can at least once every 90 minutes. Set a timer.