Winter is coming! Yes, you heard it right. Cosy festivities are on their way, and shorter Winter days are already calling us indoors and warming up beside firelight.. But hold on a moment, what about daylight?
Daylight is an indicator our body clocks rely on, and when days become shorter or longer, even just by an hour, our bodies can be affected in a way very similar to jet lag. The dark promotes a feeling of wanting to sleep, so if you’re beginning to feel a little slower or more lethargic, don’t worry at all, as this is completely natural during this period. Waking up the body and attuning it to the day and the night will be something we have to put a little extra effort into doing during this transition into Winter. Here are just a few ways to boost those energy levels and attune to our constantly changing surroundings:
Make sure to step away from your desk when at work.
Look around and bring awareness to the sweet moment.
Step outside and take a breath of fresh air.
In this case, the little things are most definitely the big things! You could take a walk to work instead of taking the train or a stroll in the park — regardless of the weather! Or, even better, take a walk to The Refinery!? Now that’s a good idea…!!
At The Refinery, we have an array of exercise classes to inspire more movement which will also help going into winter by keeping your body, mind and spirit energised. We have a wide selection of classes such as Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Hip n Hamstring Heaven, Ass, Arms n Abs and Disco Barre. We currently offer around 100 classes a week so there’s enough to choose from. I find that movement really helps me during this shift into the darkness, helping me to feel more proactive, less tired, and more alive.
During this season, it’s easy to slip into doing little to no exercise along with having more cosy nights in. This isn’t a bad thing — it can be equally as nourishing! A glass of red by a fire in a pub, I mean, how can that not make us feel bright! But by finding the balance early on, we’ll only have ourselves to thank when we feel the benefits of doing both.
Gong mediations, sound baths and cacao workshops are really nurturing to do at this time of year too. The coming together of people holding a space for self-love to flourish and nourish…It’s a magical place to be, especially when slowing down. It is like an affirmation to winter itself, listening to the voice of nature. During a sound bath, the healing vibrations of the gong, crystal bowls, shamanic drum or/and Tibetan bowls allow pure tones to retrain and retune our bodies to vibrate as one. This grounds me, de-stresses and brings me to meet the Winter with ease, with peace, feeling the subtle aliveness with a spark of joy.
Winter sun also means that we won’t be getting our daily dose of Vitamin D as the winter sunlight doesn’t contain enough UVB radiation for our skin to be able to make Vitamin D. During these winter months we can get our Vitamin D from food sources and supplements to maintain healthy bones.
Here’s an easy Recipe with foods naturally rich in Vitamin D:
Mushroom & kale on toast — with Egg as an option for non-Vegans!
Serves 2 — Prep Time: 5 min — Cooking Time: 10 min
Ingredients:
Olive oil
100g mushrooms (sliced)
2 garlic cloves, (chopped finely or crushed)
A handful of curly kale, (chopped)
2 eggs (optional)
2 slices delicious wholesome bread
Method:
Add a dash of olive oil to a non-stick frying pan and set over a medium heat. When hot, add the mushrooms and fry for 5 min. Add the garlic and kale along with a dash of water, and then cook until wilted. Keep aside in a bowl and cover to keep warm.
If cooking eggs too, add extra oil to the pan if needed, and fry the eggs just how you like them! Meanwhile, toast the bread.
Spoon some mushroom and kale mixture over each piece of toast. If you cooked eggs as an additional ingredient, place a fried egg on top.
Serve sprinkled with black pepper.
With this self-assistance, self-awareness and self-love, we are sure to shine sunbeams from our very faces. Who needs that Summer Sun, eh?…… We are the Summer Sun! Refinery Crew, stay active, stay healthy and feel bright this winter.
Content by Molly Addison