I decided to run a 10K race because it scared me.  A delightful friend was asked to run it and invited others, especially those that were scared, to join her in an empowered and supported way.
There were three choices: walk 5K, run 5K or run 10K.  I had run a 5K in my twenties and I walk 5K on many of my regular days so I wanted something new.  After I signed up I looked it up and realized it was further than my commute from home to work – the worry started a little just then.
I like running and have had different seasons including running in my life.  I like it because I think it is important for people to see bodies like mine are capable of running, it feels very stress relieving, and you can sound so very impressive when talking about it.
So I decided to start a new season with running, run 2x longer then I had ever run, do it in front of others, and to add learning to run in barefoot-style runners at the same time (you know….as you do…..¯\_(ツ)_/¯).
I must admit I wasn’t really prepared for what would come up.  The 5K had been fun from training to the actual day, so I expected the same.  This time though it brought up so much:
The beginning was that my knees had a fairly pouty response to the barefoot shoes.  So, still enthusiastic, I sought out rehabilitation exercises to make them stronger each day and continued to train very slowly.
I moved to a treadmill when the Canadian winter decided it was time and kept increasing my speed and time.  Now I was in the zone, making big strides in my training and running new and longer distances to my immense pride.  
The weather cleared up and I geared up to run outside again.  Ah yes – me and the open wind, majestic, free, inspiring…..or perhaps not!  I knew that the switch back outside would set me back a little since the treadmill helps you along, but it was like starting from scratch again.  I wasn’t in any pain gratefully, but the stamina seemed to have all left. This was the first time I started to actually doubt my ability to run this race and my mind started playing with quitting.
Outside commitments work well for me – on the Gretchen Rubin scale I am definitely an obliger, so once I have committed to others, I am way more motivated to meet a goal.  I used this to keep dragging myself out to run. The runs were a bit of a fiery mess both emotionally and for my tomato hued face, but I did keep going and it did slowly start getting better again.  The pride of something hard is always so much more delicious.
Okay in the groove again.  I am a slow runner, but a runner nonetheless…. and then my hips wanted to join the party!  At this point, I want to throw a fairly impressive tantrum. I am feeling like I am way too active to have this many issues and starting to get angry – which is fascinating from a Chinese Medicine perspective because the hips are home to the liver and gallbladder meridians of wood element and the emotion for wood is anger.  Wood is also all about making a plan and sticking to it… how very charming!!!
So again I delve into the world of specific exercises to strengthen my hips and start getting acupuncture and massage to move through the physical and emotional components.  As with the knees, continuing to run actually makes it better, not worse, so I continue.
Okay made it through and the day of the race arrives… pouring with rain!  Now for most people, this is less than best case scenario and for me, this is my kryptonite weather.  Rain makes me, and many with my constitution, feel heavy, slow and often even very sad. I was way too set on going to stop now though, so I wrapped my fantastic playlist filled phone in a ziplock bag and hoped the fabulous sporty headphones my spouse had gifted me as encouragement would be protected enough with my hood.  
And I did it!  I finished the 10K race.  I didn’t have any pain and I ran most of it with a smile on my face feeling great!
Afterwards, I thought I would feel triumphant, but I actually didn’t.  I compared my times with others and found out I was only 6 places up from coming last.  I added all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t be proud of myself – I wasn’t just slow I had done planned walks 3x for 1 min each to just reset and ensure I felt great (gasp – I know a whole 3 minutes!!), I didn’t feel the triumph I thought I would, other people run so much longer… etc.  you get the point!
So this whole experience has been so illuminating.  It helped me find physical weaknesses I didn’t know I had with the current ways I move.  It showed me where I have been being really hard on myself and not even realizing and it reminded me that I can do more than my mind may try to convince me.  
I have now come to realize how amazing it was to run 10K.  I even saw the distance driving with my spouse and tried to argue that it hadn’t been that far only to be proven wrong and really have a sense of just how far it was.  Honestly, I needed to rely on people in my life to shift my perspective.
Moving through a difficult goal can certainly increase confidence – but you also just might learn more than you expected.

One of the things I love about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that it actually helps to inform the ways that we live our everyday life.  A big theme is living with the seasons, and each season has a constellation of associated characteristics.
As we approach the height of winter, here are some ideas to explore:

Element: Water
Many of us experience the desire to hibernate.  Water is about depth, quiet, and protection. It is a time to go inward and listen to yourself.

Yin
Winter is a time of yin (the material and substance of the body rather than the heat and energy).  In nature, it is a time of storing rather than creation. Simplicity, gentle movement and rest are important. Consider eating warm cooked food with warming herbs like cinnamon and ginger.  If you eat meat, this is a great time for homemade bone broth. This is the perfect time to have the hardy stews, mulled wine, root vegetables and porridge many of us are craving.

Colour: Black
According to the doctrine of signatures, foods that are black are especially nourishing this time of year.  Think: black beans, black sesame, blackberries, molasses

Flavour: Salty
Consider adding good quality salt, seaweeds and fermented foods to your diet right now.

Organs: Kidney and Urinary Bladder
The kidneys and bladder can use a little extra love this time of year.  These meridians help to support our will. Being gentle and nourishing with yourself now will ensure you have the will to put your plans into action come spring and summer.   

Emotion: Fear
Fear is the emotion of this element/time of year.  Be sure to offer yourself rest and nourishment if you are experiencing an increase in fear.  Herbs and acupuncture with a trained TCMD can also be very helpful for fear and anxiety.

If you have any questions or want to explore this further, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!!

I know, I know… “no pain no gain” is sexy!  The just do it and go full beast mode can be very intoxicating and the 30-day challenge to [insert big goal here that usually has to do with appearance or the dread “toxins”] are exciting and instagrammable.  

But I haven’t ever actually seen someone’s life change because of this approach (well at least not in a positive way!).

On the other hand, I have seen people’s lives change in truly breathtaking ways through gentle, kind and enjoyable health practices.

Every time I post about joyful health or joyful movement I am always really encouraged, and honestly sometimes a little surprised, by the response.  They usually range from “Thank you – that was exactly what I needed to hear” to “I never thought of it that way” and I honestly think people are tired of the health as punishment paradigm.  What if we started listening to ourselves more and started doing things we enjoyed instead.

I know.. going to bed 15 minutes earlier or going for a gentle walk along the river isn’t going to win any competitions, but they can make a huge difference over time.  It is usually the small change over long periods that have the power to transform and I see this all the time in my practice.

We all have unique constitutions and varying current health pictures.  If you find yourself overwhelmed by the huge amount of often contradictory health information you are being bombarded with, I recommend this simple exploration:

What do you want to do?
How do you feel afterwards?

Let’s take exercise: things like Bootcamp and CrossFit might light you up.  Perhaps you love going and feel great afterwards – and this is often the case for people who find they have stagnation in their lives, emotions or physical health.  The explosive and varied movement can feel so much better.

But perhaps the idea of going makes you actually want to weep and you feel like you have been hit by a bus for three days afterwards – a common occurrence for people who are incredibly depleted.  If this is you, consider more gentle and spaced out exercise/movement.

Either way, listen to yourself!  You are unique and you deserve to feel great.  Health practices shouldn’t be a punishment you dread (unless you are actually honestly into that and then, by all means, go to – no judgement!).

What are some simple health practices that have been calling to you?  Don’t worry about if they are impressive to others – what do you truly want to do?  Can you add 10 minutes gently each day to meditate, have a hot bath, go for a gentle walk, draw, sing, laugh, etc?  

Try adding that in and enjoying the process.  You may be shocked to find that this little thing makes you feel a little better; that you can trust your body to heal.  You may find that this gives you the little lift you needed to add another health practice you enjoy and then all of a sudden 4 months have gone by and you are itching to go for a longer bike ride then you have in years – but this time it is joyful.

The holidays can truly bring up all the emotions and I know there are so many articles this time of year talking about how to stay healthy through all the treats, travel and challenges.  This one may be a little different – there won’t be any tips to eat less or sneak in vegetables. As always, I am going to gently invite you to take a more self-loving perspective.
1. Listen to your body
With all that can come up this time of year, if you can, try to sit with and really feel into what your body wants.  Does it want rest or movement? Does it want another baked good or a break? Truly feel into what would feel good for you and enjoy that.
2. Enjoyment is healthy
Please don’t ever discount the beautiful effect of enjoyment on your health.  If you are spending time with community, whether chosen or biological, can you really be present and enjoy it fully?  Food and lazy days together can be a huge part of celebrating and that joy is so good for us. Can you enjoy every bite of the baked goods (GASP even with sugar!!!  Yes!! Enjoy it fully!) Can you enjoy every moment of cozy blankets and watching holiday movies?
3. Diversity of Movement
When you feel called to move can you move in new or diverse ways?  Perhaps you are away from your regular routine, but does another way of moving sound good?  Can you go on a walk on your own or with people around you? Can you prepare food in a squatting position?  Can you crawl through a fort with the kids (or without – I will never concede that forts have an age limit!)
4. No shame and no punishment
No matter what you eat or what activities you do or don’t do, please please please do not use shame or punishment.  Denying food or over exercising will not change the past and will only cause harm. Eating is not a sin and does not require penance.  
5. Be very gentle with yourself
This time of year is always painted as so jolly, but for many of us, it is not (or at least moments of it are not).  Please be so gentle with yourself. Do any self-care activities help right now? Are there any aspects of the holidays you find beautiful?  Focus on these as much as possible and remember this time of year is not a great time for pushing yourself – it is a time for gentleness and rest.


Do you have any tips for the holidays?  Please leave them in a comment below!