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Summer is widely considered to be the most energetic time of the year. Kids are out of school, families travel all over the world on vacations, bodies are preparing for the beach or outdoor camping adventures, the weather is warm and delicious and the days are enjoyably longer. What’s not to love?
June 21st marks the actual date of the seasonal change, but it’s never too early to begin planning how we choose to usher in this exuberant and limitless time of year. With the Solstice knocking at the door after the first full moon, we can make our health a priority and ensure that our best selves are out and about, feeling feisty, strong and happy.
The self-care required throughout each year must never end at winter or spring. Oftentimes when it’s colder outside, and illness are more likely, it’s easier to pay attention to nagging aches and pains within our bodies and tend to them right away. Massages, hot baths, warm comfy teas; these are all part of a winter and spring self-care regimen, especially when the weather is beckoning our deepest parts.
Yet summer conjures up our most naked selves.We expose more skin, our nutrition leans more towards lighter fare, minus the occasional ballpark hot dog, and our attitudes take a vacation from stress and worry. We are carefree.
Even with the days being fairly consistent here in the western part of the country it still begs me to take extra care of myself, no matter the amount of sunny days or perfect temperatures. In an instant I can either abandon my early morning practice or take in too much emotional drama; both are recipes for my own disaster. I choose to ring in the summer with a freshness, openness and aliveness.
It’s not so much getting a pedicure for outward appearances, as it is feeling good about baring it all with healthy skin on our exposed feet. Scrub up on those heels that have dried out, tend to accumulated calluses or blisters and trim those overgrown nails. Yes, pretty toes are all fine and good, but the health of your feet is where it’s at.
This is more of a reality check on the body parts that were abandoned during the winter and spring months. This has nothing to do with aesthetics, but everything to do with excess weight that could spell trouble if accumulated in areas that cause heart disease, diabetes, and other ailments related to excess weight. If your body is unaccustomed to carrying more weight than normal, make a conscious decision to shift your health to alleviate a few pounds.**
I’m a huge fan of using natural Vitamin D in lieu of sunscreen. The tricky part is balancing how much of our beautiful sunshine is helping our bones, organs and even creating healthier blood flow. The sun, for about 10-20 minutes of unprotected time each day, is our ultimate friend. We don’t need to overdo it by baking in the sun. We also don’t need to overuse sunscreen to the point where Mother Nature’s best shine isn’t allowed into our bodies.**
This may be a controversial approach to sun care, but if we allow the sun to do his thing within our lives we might just discover how amazing he can be. Bones are happy. Skin is happy. And in some cases, depression is lifted. **
A cleansing of the needlessness is an incredible way to begin the summer fun. We typically associate this purging as happening during the transitional months, autumn and spring. Yet the Solstice is prime for ridding our lives of things that have worn out their welcome; clothes, food, habits, all of it – let it go. Donate, recycle, hand-down to family members, repurpose and start over. A fresh, clean slate is the only way to go. **
Whatever makes us feel alive and energized during these longer summer days is a giftto ourselves. Do we need a haircut to enliven our spirits, and chop off old dead ends from past years? Go for it. Does a salt scrub ridding ourselves of dead skin collected over the longer weather months demand attention? Why not! Will this adventure I’m about to embark on inspire my creative forces that lie deep within? You bet. **
Summer is such a lilting and Spirit-filled time of year. Let’s take it up a notch and begin a season of joy, newness and more time spent with loved ones. Embrace the present and have the time of your life this Solstice season.
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