Winter's Healing Gifts

by Puja Thomson, February 18, 2007

Last week's winter storm brought me back into balance. It helped me to cease and desist. NO argument. Everything cancelled. What relief. No cars to be heard, not even a snowplow to distract from the silence. Luckily, I was not missing out on some long-anticipated treat. In fact, I had scheduled a two-day liquid-only cleanse. Perfect!

Winter’s gifts—hibernation and dormancy, both easy to ignore during the recent mild months of this winter, when the seasons have seemed topsy-turvy, came into their own. Yielding into rest, or retreating into the cave when all around is quiet, has long been part of nature’s cycle of healing and growth in our Northern hemisphere. Such downtime to recover from wear and tear is part of our cellular memory. Thank you, storm, for the reminder; and, after the lull, shoveling comes soon enough.

Rest and relaxation support healing at every level—body, mind, emotions and spirit. The body needs to rest in order to amplify its own healing energies. It is always good to respect that need—especially in our speed-driven culture. When you feel physically depleted, mentally exhausted, emotionally drained, or spiritual dry, your body is giving you a message to slow down, hibernate for a while and find, whenever possible, quiet space and quality time just to be. I’d rather be a "human being" than a "human doing," wouldn’t you?

It may seem difficult to make room for rest and relaxation when you are caught up in an active life or if you are worried about a health challenge, but in either case doing so is a lifeline to good health. By slowing down into an acceptance of rest, you’ll regenerate your cells, replenish your energy, and renew your spirit. It’s always beneficial to get enough sleep and plenty of fresh air. And learning to let go of tensions and stress is another important key to health.

Here’s what you can do:

-Create an environment of peace and quiet with as few distractions as possible for times of rest and relaxation, so turn off the telephone, cell phone, TV, and computer.

-Stop what you are doing and notice how you are breathing. Put your hand on your chest or abdomen; feel the rise and fall; deepen and slow your breath to sink into a rhythm of greater calm.

-Put your feet up; simply rest.

-Have a nap.

-Listen to a calming CD.

-Think about the rhythm of your week. Are there natural breaks in your schedule when you can put aside routine tasks—daily? Weekly? There’s great wisdom in the ancient practice of taking a complete day of rest every seventh day.

-Think about the rhythm of your year…and take the opportunity to cozy in before spring awakens us up again.

And now…. As you slow down, take another deep breath, or two, or three. Breathe in the miracle of life and release any tension on the exhalation. You really can be your own best friend.

Born and brought up in Scotland, Puja Thomson is founder and director of Roots & Wings Holistic Healing and Transformation in New Paltz. She's a health care professional, educator, workshop leader, and minister of healing. Recently, she drew from her personal experiences with cancer and her holistic perspectives to write AFTER SHOCK: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing—A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Navigate Your Way, which was featured in the January issue of Chronogram. Puja also created Roots & Wings: Guided Imagery and Meditations to Transform Your Life, an audio release with music by Richard Shulman and a companion workbook.

Photo by Lauren Thomas