4 simple ways to get your body ready for spring

Last week I decluttered my book shelves and came across some magazines dating back to 1999.

I flicked through and found a timely article on preparing ourselves for spring.

In it were some gentle stretching exercises, information on the perfect spring herbs for detoxing as well as advice on diet.

I loved that all the advice was simple and felt ‘doable’.

It certainly inspired me to ‘clean up’ my body!

This winter, for the first time in years, I ended up in bed for a few days with a virus.

And it really got me thinking about how I treated myself throughout 2015.

I was under a lot of stress and pressure; self induced, most of it (hello inner perfectionist!).

I promised myself time off, but never really took it – constantly finding something to distract myself with, crossing all those ‘shoulds’ off my To Do list and creating yet more ‘busy-ness.’

In the end my body took over and forced me to come face to face with myself by sticking me in bed for a few days!

While the virus has left my body, I am still feeling pretty depleted and tired, so here’s what I’m going to do during March:

Exercise

Now I hate exercise and have some really negative messages about it. I can’t stand getting sweaty in a gym. But I do love movement and rhythm.

So I’m going to bring ‘movement’ into my day through dancing (I love how I can change my mood in an instant with an upbeat song) and some early morning Qi Gong or Tai Chi. These are the ‘exercises’ that suit my body most by helping me to get grounded.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is one of those things that I know benefits me enormously, yet I rarely find time to do.

I have no excuses – I know what to do, I know what works for me and I already have the tools I need. All I need to do is schedule it into my day and form a new habit.

Nutrition

While my diet is pretty good, there’s always room for improvement, right? My NutriBullet died a couple of months ago and now it’s time to replace it, so I can start the day with a smoothie.

A smoothie maker isn’t difficult to get hold of or use, even department stores sell ranges of kitchen accessories that include juicers, smoothie makers and dehydrators – all tools that can make it easy for you to eat well.

Epsom Salts

A couple of years ago, I discovered the wonders of an Epsom salt bath!

Not only do Epsom Salts draw toxins from your body, but they zap insomnia, leaving you to sleep like a baby.

I put a generous handful into a bath of warm water and soak for 20 minutes before going to bed.

What about you? As we awaken from winter and move into spring – what will you be doing to support your body – mind?