Winter Is Tough On Our Inner Bodies, Too!

Sometimes we forget how our environment can affect our body. The temperature of our surroundings, the people we look up to, and the jobs we have all very much influence our alignment.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the cold weather will strongly influence the way our body reacts. As you watch the trees lose their leaves and snowflakes turn into ice, our body reacts by creating inner heat to keep us safe. It may seem a little counter intuitive, but our body needs just as much water in the cold as it would in very hot weather.

The first organs to react to the lack of water and to the cold temperature are the kidneys. The kidneys regulate the water in our body, and when lacking nutrients, they can shrivel and can create all sorts of horrible sensations. The kidneys are located in the lower back, and that, together with the constant contraction that cold weather brings about in our body, our lower back region starts to give up space, taking the job of holding everything up on its own. It’s almost as if it were getting slowly compressed – not only by the weight of the upper body, but also by the natural reaction of the body to want to close up in order to defend itself from the cold weather. Unfortunately, when we close up, we become less open to our needs, and listening enough even to take an extra sip of water. All this influences the way that region feels.

All hope is not lost. Our body’s ability to adapt to change is a lot stronger than we think. Here are a few cozy exercises that can help create the opening in the regions of the lower back and kidneys. It is important to remember that in order to create space we need to open both the lower back region and the region of the groins and hip creases. Let’s release that tight fist that the body tends to create when in a state of defense. The goal is that of creating space. Make an opening in your space by taking a moment to lie down, breathe, and align with the messages nature is trying to give us. The winter is a time to slow down, to listen, and to recharge our batteries.

Static Back

Static Wall

Hip Crossover, Palms Up

Cat/Cow

Hanging Toes In

Active Groin Stretch

Overhead Arm Extension

 

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