Radical Rest

Have you ever noticed how relaxed and rested you are when you’re on vacation?  Especially those vacations where you’re just going with the flow of things and seeing what comes of each day?  Those vacations are marvelous but are unfortunately all too infrequent!  What’s worse is the rested feeling doesn’t always last once you’ve returned home.

Chinese medicine has always prioritized “doing” or working from a space of rest.  In Daoist philosophy (which overlaps significantly with Chinese medicine), ‘wu wei’ is a principle that embodies working from a place of rest.  Wu wei has been translated to ‘non-doing’, ‘doing nothing’ and most accurately, ‘effortless action’.  While it may seem like an invitation for choosing not to do anything, it’s far from that.  Wu wei is the daoist principle that underlines the need for letting go and moving with the flow of what’s happening without struggling or depleting oneself.  

In each season, rest looks a little different when viewed through the perspective of Chinese medicine and this also follows the ideal of wu wei because it allows each of us to move in flow with the season and nature.  Which in turn makes it easier to be present in each season and be at rest in each season.

Winter - Deep Rest

In Chinese medicine, winter is associated with the Water Element.  The energy of this element naturally turns inward and downward in this season.  This is why winter is a season of hibernation and deep rest.  It’s also why going to bed earlier and rising later can help us to feel more rested.  It’s a time when everyone needs far more sleep alongside gentle activity as it’s a season of overall slowness.

Movement

This is a wonderful time for yin yoga or restorative yoga, gentle stretching, walks outside (remember to bundle up), tai chi, qi gong, massage and acupuncture.     

Cooking

Using a slow cooker, roasting, long-simmering soups and stews are all great cooking methods in this season.

Reconnecting with Your True Self

This is a great season to turn inward and reconnect with your values.  Meditation and journaling can help you to uncover what’s most important to you.

Spring - Creativity 

Spring is a time of birth and rebirth - a bursting forth of life.  The Wood Element is associated with the spring season in Chinese medicine.  As the trees and other plants begin to bud, now is the time to get creative!  The Wood element is said to govern inspiration, ideas, our ability to set goals and plan.  In this season, it’s ideal to start waking up a little early and continue to go to bed around the same time as you were through winter.  Waking a little early and moving a little more in the mornings can help to alleviate some of the additional stiffness that often accompanies the spring.  This movement can also allow our minds to be flexible and creative.  

Getting Creative

Time to make something!  Literally anything!  Creating for the sole purpose of creating can help spark creativity in a variety of ways.  That creativity can then be applied to coming up with solutions and ideas for anything you’re looking to change in your life.  Struggling to start?  Take a class, visit a gallery or look for other ways to be inspired to create something yourself.

Movement 

This is a fabulous time to focus on moving a little more while still allowing for flexibility in what movement feels good each day.  Stretching (especially the sides of the body) can help to alleviate any aches and pains that may be arising.

Cooking

Time to lighten things up!  Cooking through winter tends to be a little heavier with the longer slower cooking times.  Now is the time to move towards more stir frying, shorter and faster cooking times, eating more greens (baby greens, spinach, etc.). 

Aspiring to Become Your Highest Self

This is a great season to begin to make changes that align with the values you uncovered in the winter season.  It’s a time to refine your vision and goals so they can become plans.  Once you have a plan, you can work on making that plan a reality.

Summer - Connection

Summer is a season of connection, joy and excitement!  The Fire Element is associated with summer and the heart in Chinese medicine.  The energy of this season is expansive as it’s moving up and out.  This is a great time to wake up with the sun and go to bed with the sun.  The days are longer and warmer, so there’s more time to get outside and play!

Movement

Anything goes!  What feels good to you?  This is the most Yang or energetic season.

Cooking

Let’s keep lightening things up.  This is a great time to eat more raw foods, cooling foods (fruit and vegetables) or lightly steam or sauté your food.  Don’t forget to hydrate - berry teas, vegetable soups like gazpacho and watermelon are all great options beyond water.

Connect to Your Heart and Your Community

Connecting with those who fill you up and leave you feeling better are the people to prioritize in this season.  Showing yourself love and compassion is equally important!  This is a great time to reconnect with anyone you've lost touch with and to not spend as much (or any) time with people who drain you or leave you feeling less than. This includes anyone you follow on social media!

Fall - Breathing 

In Chinese medicine, fall is associated with the Metal Element.  The energy of this element naturally begins to contract and move inwards.  Fall is a transition that helps us shift from the expansive energy of summer and prepare for the coming winter.  The Metal Element is said to govern reflection, introspection, assimilation and releasing what’s no longer needed.  This process helps us take what we’ve gained from the previous months to prepare for the months ahead.  This is a time to tap into our deep inner knowledge and to trust our intuition.  

Movement

This is a season to focus on breathwork and deep breathing.  It’s also a great season to connect movement with your breath - this might be with yoga, tai chi, qi gong or something else.

Cooking

It’s time to start to warm things up again!  This is a great time to start to add warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamon, nutmeg, garlic, onions and more.  For an added bonus, these spices also give your immune system a boost because many are anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and/or help to support digestion.  This is a great time to start to cook a little more by sauteing your food or creating soups and stews.  It’s also a time to enjoy the abundance of the harvest season!

Release that Which No Longer Serves You

The trees are about to show us how beautiful it can be to let things go.  Creating spaces within your home that are clutter free can help to create a calm space for your mind.  While it’s not always possible to keep a space clutter free and clean at all times, it is possible to make a little time each day to tidy up.  Start by setting a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and see how much you can tidy up in one room in that time.  You’ll be amazed at how good it looks afterwards.  Little things like making your bed each morning can make your bedroom look really nice each night.

The In Between - Deep Nourishment 

The Earth Element isn’t directly tied to one season, but rather is the two to three week transition and transformation between seasons.  Occasionally, it’s associated with late summer and the beginning of the harvest season; however, this is also a transition between summer and fall.  This element is one that embodies the virtues of empathy and nurturing.  A mother caring for their child.  In this, we are both the mother and the child.

Movement

Any movements that help you stay centered and grounded.  This might be seated meditation, moving meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong or something else.  

Cooking

This is a time to prioritize sitting down to meals at regular times, eating warm foods, eating grains and root vegetables along with fruit.  Breakfast is ideal all year long, but even more important at this time.

Deeply Nourish Yourself

If the Earth Element had a phrase, it would likely be something along the lines of ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ or ‘put your own oxygen mask on first’.  When you are deeply nourished you can give generously from the excess that overflows.  You can give generously from the abundance of what you have - be it time, energy or something else.  Sadly, in North American culture, you’re not taught to nourish yourself first.  By choosing to fill your cup with the things that bring you joy, it will help you.  If you’re wondering where to start, understanding the seven types of rest may be helpful here. 

The Beauty of the Seasons

Each season is unique and beautiful in its own way.  This is something that we can use to move in flow with the seasons and start to live the principles of wu wei.  The key here is starting with small actions that you can keep up with on a daily basis that change slightly with each season.

If you have more questions about how to apply this, you can email me at Andrea@DancingWillowWellness.com or book a free 20-minute consultation.