Spring is Here!

You’re walking down the street, enjoying the sunny, warmer weather. All of a sudden the wind picks up, you start shivering and the rain starts falling. Welcome to spring in the Northwest; you can go from shorts to needing a snow suit in minutes. Change is a big part of spring. Those changes can be helpful or problematic. Here’s a few tips to make it through spring healthy, and ready for summer fun!

Bundle up
   
Spring has it’s warm, sunny moments. We jump at the chance to soak up sun by wearing lightweight shirts, skirts, shorts and other warmer weather clothes. Also, with the temperature and weather fluctuations, it is difficult to dress for the day. Make sure you are wearing, and carrying, appropriate clothing for the colder, windier moments. Wear scarves and higher necklines to keep the wind away and give your body some extra protection. Also, if you do catch a cold, remember to give yourself time to recover. Don’t try to push through it. Rest, and allow the healing your body needs to happen.

Pace yourself

    We all want to seize the opportunity to run outside and do projects which had to be postponed during winter. Also, the weather is nice, without being too hot. It’s a great time to work on fixing up the yard, starting a garden and even deep cleaning house. Be sure to take time to rest. Don’t overexert yourself doing too much early in the season. This will allow you stay working longer and with less aches and pains.  

Eat Right & Exercise

    Despite the lure of warm weather, there will be chilly times. Remember to eat healthy, warm foods. In TCM we associate Spring with the organ, liver, and the element, wood. The color associated with these things is green. So, lots of green leafy veggies is always a good idea. The taste is sour, so drinking lemon water can help you start your day right. There are many great food tips. Feel free to google TCM and spring foods for several good blogs on types of foods and drinks.
    When exercising, remember to pace yourself. Don’t overdo it, but it is a good time to start building up your routine. Make sure to add in stretching of some sort. Pilates or yoga are good choices, but there are many different types of workouts which incorporate some form of stretching. Find one you enjoy and feel comfortable with. Make sure you learn how to do the movements correctly.

    There are many other things you can do, but these are some basic ideas to help you get started. Spring is a season of change and new life. Have fun finding what works best for you!