A Change In Seasons
The sweltering temps of this Texas summer
seem to be easing away. Although my New
England roots would expect chilly evenings
and the last remnants of silver queen corn,
I am cheered by the colorful mums for sale
at the local HEB. I can finally get out and
hike the nearby Eisenhower Park and linger
in the herb gardens in Fredericksburg
without the fear of heat exhaustion.
When I can't get outside to be in nature,
I am stricken with the blues. There is only
so much the ocean screen saver can do to
lighten my mood. We are on the threshold of
autumn, which represents our harvesting the
fruits of our labor and to begin the
preparations for a time of rest in winter.
Of course, that is if you are a farmer. As
we all know, the holiday seasons inevitably
find us working harder and feeling more
pressure and stress, throwing us into a wide
range of emotions.
If you have a tendency towards the blues
caused by stress or changes, these are a few
things that have helped me. As always,
consult your doctor.
- Breathe in, breathe out. Dr. Jeff
Migdow's book of the same name describes
breathing techniques to help you breathe
back your life energy. The simple abdominal
breath where you place your hands on your
abdomen and expand gently like a balloon and
exhale fully can leave you relaxed. Upper
chest breathing, which is what many of us
are used to, is never totally relaxed
because the diaphragm is not free to
contract downward, making us work harder to
breathe.
- Improve your immunity and digestion.
According to Dannon, 70 percent of your
body's immune system is found in your
digestive tract. Probiotic bacteria
beneficially alter the intestinal microflora
balance, inhibit the growth of harmful
bacteria, promote good digestion, boost
immune function, and increase resistance to
infection. You can find probiotics in
yogurt, Actimel or at health food stores.
Then choose a balanced, fresh diet that
includes the flavors and colors you love and
savor cooking as a ritual to sauté the blues
away, even it is just for yourself.
- Enjoy nature, whether it's a walk, a
hike, a bike ride or tours of formal
gardens. Take in the yellow sunshine, the
orange nasturtium blossoms, and the red
ladybug. Fresh air combined with energy of
trees and the pulsations of the earth
reassure us that life is a cycle of
beginnings and endings and all the feelings
that accompany them.
Do yoga....
