Spring offerings at Rest & Restore

As the final month of winter continues to deliver some of our coldest days, there is no better time to prioritise your health and wellbeing from the inside out. Meeting the winter cold with a cachet of helpful tools and tips can soften the harshness of winter and provide valuable ways to replenish your depleted stores.

The kidney and adrenals continue to work hard during the long August chill so finding ways to nourish warmth, raise our immunity and conserve vital force will allow you to emerge from winter harnessing the rising energies of spring. If we imagine the plants around us, preparing for spring with a root system that has not received its nutrients from the soil will struggle to thrive as the light calls new growth forward. Likewise, Rest & Restore’s slow and nourishing retreat offers a multitude of opportunities to fill your depleted cup in preparation for new beginnings. Here are some pre Spring offerings to soften our pace.

Value your energy stores

We all know the feeling of pushing to meet deadlines, busy social gatherings, families’ ever increasing activities and appointments. The pace of life doesn’t really offer us pause as the natural energy of August says, “slow down”, taking time to consider what serves best right now. Sometimes saying, “I can’t right now” is a huge step towards taking better care of yourself during the final winter days, to conserve and manage your energy.

It’s also a time of introspection and creativity so get creative with your calendar and see where you can find space and time to rest and digest, snuggle up and nourish yourself. Simplify activities or pause to consider how much you have to give. Is it time to say no to something and say yes to yourself? Can you edit or shorten activities or catch ups so you can snuggle up early to welcome the cold evenings? Winter’s introspection provides the invitation to listen and respond with care.

Community

If you value community in winter - consider the ways traditional peoples would cultivate connection during the colder months to share, build and create together. Consider:

• A Crafting circle at home - learn a skill, share some laughter and stories with close friends

• Gathering for a pot luck dinner - every shares the food load and cleans up together. Pot lucks were a traditional way of sharing food stores and supporting each other during the winter months of scarcity. There’s something special about sharing the responsibilities of providing and gathering in community.

• A giving and receiving space - foot soaks and self massage, chai making and drinking

Movement

Winter is a time to move mindfully and invite stretch, breath and release through cold muscles, tendons and joints. Consider restorative classes such as Yoga, Qigong, Slow Pilates. These practices can help you release tension, improve flexibility, and cultivate a sense of inner strength, leaving you feeling revitalised.

Morning walks and movement support us during in winter in so many ways. Not only does this enhance our immune systems but the crisp, cold air and invigorate you senses and energise to provide increased energy reserves and clearer head throughout your day.

Take in Rest

The Sleep Research Society Journal describes Waking rest "as a period of quiet, reflective thought that allows the brain time to consider and process whatever arises spontaneously”. Time away from devices, sipping a warm cup of tea, snuggling a pet, listening to music provides a necessary pause to slow down. Rest also supports our immune system which is less effective when we are constantly tasking. Add some breathing exercises which target the autonomic nervous system to take rest to another level.

Food

This is a time to replenish our reserves with denser and often slow cooked foods. Set your slow cooker to go in the morning and come home to the inviting smells of a favourite dish which is easy on the digestion and fills the inner furnace. Start your day with a nourishing breakfast (think overnight oats - simple and delicious) to warm and energise and sustain you.

Nature

Nature and Forest Bathing can offer a wide array of health benefits during winter and alleviate symptoms of SADs. Being bathed in wintery sun supports the uptake of Vitamin D and serotonin levels that can improve our mood. Inviting the sights, sounds, smells, sounds and experience of nature reduces anxiety and stress levels and invites a sense of belonging. So perhaps our pre Spring Retreat will offer you the kickstart you need to get ready for Spring. Here’s a snapshot into the Nourishing and Restorative Elements on offer:

- Foot Soaking and Reflexology Immersion along the bank of the Birrarung.
- Pyschology Education tools to rediscover your wellbeing toolkit
- Restorative Yoga with the sounds of Harp and voice
- Qigong in the vibrancy of morning
- Afternoon weaving and clay immersions with a cuppa
- Mindfulness and attuned movement
- “Made from scratch” nourishing meals and food workshops to inspire creativity
- Breathing with the Trees at our Forest Bathing Immersion in the Redwood Forest
- Campfire music and the floodlight of the stars at night
- Sound Bath immersions to float towards bedtime.

At Rest & Restore, we provide so many opportunities to slow down into warming immersions, nourishing food, creative and mindful spaces to explore. From here you can begin to unfurl into the welcoming warmth of spring with strong roots and an open heart.